During his whole life on earth,

but especially at the end,

Christ sustained

in body and soul

the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race.

This he did in order that,

by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice,

he might deliver us, body and soul,

from eternal condemnation,

and gain for us God’s grace,

righteousness, and eternal life.

—Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 37

Jesus, your very name says Savior. You are the one who came to save. Your capture brought us freedom. Your sorrow brought us joy. In your perfect empathy our hearts find their home. Amen.

Frederick Whitfield, B.A., son of H.Whitfield was born at Threapwood, Shropshire, Jan. 7th 1829, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he took his B.A. in 1859. On being ordained, he was successively curate of Otley, vicar of Kirby Ravensworth, senior curate of Greenwich, and vicar of St. John's Bexley. In 1875 he was preferred to St. Mary's, Hastings. Mr. Whitfield's works in prose and verse number upwards of thirty, including Spiritual Unfolding from the Word of Life; Voices from the Valley Testifying of Jesus; The Word Unveiled; Gleanings from Scripture, etc. Several of his hymns appeared in his Sacred Poems and Prose, 1861, Second Series 1864, The Casket and Quiet Hours in the Sanctuary. The hymn by which he is most widely known is "I need Thee, precious Jesus".