In the Lord’s Atoning Grief

In the Lord’s atoning grief
Be our rest and sweet relief;
Store we deep in heart’s recess
All the shame and bitterness.

Thorns, and cross, and nails, and lance,
Wounds, our treasure that enhance,
Vinegar, and gall, and reed,
And the pang His soul that freed.

May these all our spirits sate,
And with love inebriate;
In our souls plant virtue’s root,
And mature its glorious fruit.

Crucified! we Thee adore,
Thee with all our hearts implore;
Us with saintly hands unite
In the realms of heavenly light.

Christ, by coward hands betrayed,
Christ, for us a Captive made,
Christ, upon the bitter tree
Slain for man, be praise to Thee.

Author: Thomas Benson Pollock

Year: 1887

This is a metrical version of the medieval Latin hymn 'In passione Domini' (or similar Passiontide text). Pollock produced many such translations and original hymns in the same style for 'Hymns Ancient and Modern' and related collections; the distinctive phrasing and structure match his known work from the 1880s.