1 Today they "know not what they do";
Tomorrow, when they see
Their deed, how cruel, must they rue
Wrong done half-wittingly?
When trembling they for mercy sue,
Wilt Thou severely say,
"Your hands in blood ye did imbrue;
Die, then," and turn away?
2 No, that be far from Thee, to break
These penitents so bruised,
Whose hearts for that wild error ache
They did with minds confused:
Their sin, that made the dull earth shake,
The speechless heav’ns grow black,
Thy mercy quite away can take,
When Love comes conqueror back—
3 Love, stronger than the grave and hell,
Than fire and frozen death—
To be life’s cool eternal well,
Life’s mild eternal breath.
Sweet sap within the cross shall swell,
Green branches round it twine,
That heav’nly fruits to earth may tell
This sorrow was divine.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #13483
Lynch, Thomas Toke, was born at Dunmow, Essex, July 5, 1818, and educated at a school at Islington, in which he was afterwards an usher. For a few months he was a student at the Highbury Independent College; but withdrew, partly on account of failing health, and partly because his spirit was too free to submit to the routine of College life. From 1847 to 1849 he was Minister of a small charge at Highgate, and from 1849 to 1852 of a congregation in Mortimer Street, which subsequently migrated to Grafton Street, Fitzroy Square. From 1856 to 1859 he was laid aside by illness. In 1860 he resumed his ministry with his old congregation, in a room in Gower Street, where he remained until the opening of his new place of worship, in 1862, (Morningto… Go to person page >
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