No, Not Despairingly

I had not heard this song in years, but a friend posted the lyrics on Facebook recently, reminding me of them. In fact, the only time I have heard this song was when the music pastor of the church we attended when we were first married sang them. But it is a rich old hymn. The tune I am familiar with is not the same one listed here.

No, not despairingly come I to Thee;
No, not distrustingly bend I the knee:
Sin hath gone over me, yet is this still my plea,
Jesus hath died.

Ah! mine iniquity crimson hath been,
Infinite, infinite—sin upon sin:
Sin of not loving Thee, sin of not trusting Thee—
Infinite sin.

Lord, I confess to Thee sadly my sin;
All I am tell I Thee, all I have been:
Purge Thou my sin away, wash Thou my soul this day;
Lord, make me clean.

Faithful and just art Thou, forgiving all;
Loving and kind art Thou when poor ones call:
Lord, let the cleansing blood, blood of the Lamb of God,
Pass o’er my soul.

Then all is peace and light this soul within;
Thus shall I walk with Thee, the loved Unseen;
Leaning on Thee, my God, guided along the road,
Nothing between.

~ Horatious Bonar, 1866

2 thoughts on “No, Not Despairingly

  1. No, I have not heard this one. With my Grandmother living with us now we are hearing some old hymns that I don’t ever remember hearing. It is wonderful!

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