Prostrate, Dear Jesus, at Thy Feet

Prostrate, dear Jesus, at Thy feet,
A guilty rebel lies;
And upwards to Thy mercy seat,
Presumes to lift his eyes.

If tears of sorrow would suffice
To pay the debt I owe,
Tears should from both my weeping eyes
In ceaseless torrents flow.

But no such sacrifice I plead
To expiate my guilt;
No tears but those which Thou hast shed
No blood, but Thou hast spilt.

Think of Thy sorrows, dearest Lord,
And all my sins forgive:
Justice will well approve the word
That bids the sinner live.

Author: Samuel Stennett

Year: 1787

This hymn is from Samuel Stennett's collection 'Hymns Composed on Various Subjects' (often dated around 1787 in later editions). It is sometimes titled 'A Penitent Pleading for Mercy' and appears in multiple 18th-19th century hymnals under his name; no major alternate attributions are known.