The Cyber Hymnal ‎#3576

3576. The Law Commands and Makes Us Know

1. The Law commands and makes us know
What duties to our God we owe;
But ’tis the Gospel must reveal
Where lies our strength to do His will.

2. The Law discovers guilt and sin
And shows how vile our hearts have been;
The Gospel only can express
Forgiving love and cleansing grace.

3. What curses doth the Law denounce
Against the man that fails but once!
But in the Gospel Christ appears,
Pard’ning the guilt of numerous years.

4. My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the Law.
Fly to the hope the Gospel gives;
The man that trusts the promise lives.

Text Information

• First Line: The Law commands and makes us know
• Title: The Law Commands and Makes Us Know
• Author: Isaac Watts (1709)
• Meter: LM
• Language: English
• Source: Hymns and Spiritual Songs, 1709
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Alternate tune: ROLLAND, William B. Bradbury, 1844 (repeats last line of each verse)

Tune Information

• Name: OLD 100TH
• Composer (attributed to): Louis Bourgeois (1551)
• Meter: LM
• Incipit: 11765 12333 32143
• Key: G Major
• Source: Four Score and Seven Psalms of David (Geneva, Switzerland: 1551)
• Copyright: Public Domain