Author: William Cowper Meter: 6.6.6.6.8.8 Appears in 84 hymnals First Line: Israel, in ancient days Lyrics: 1 Israel, in ancient days,
Not only had a view
Of Sinai in a blaze,
But learned the Gospel too:
The types and figures were a glass,
In which they saw the Savior’s face.
2 The paschal sacrifice,
And blood-besprinkled door,
Seen with enlightened eyes,
And once applied with power,
Would teach the need of other blood,
To reconcile an angry God.
3 The lamb, the dove, set forth
His perfect innocence,
Whose blood of matchless worth
Should be the soul’s defense;
For He who can for sin atone,
Must have no failings of His own.
4 The scape-goat on his head
The people’s trespass bore,
And, to the desert led,
Was to be seen no more;
In him our surety seemed to say,
"Behold I bear your sins away."
5 Dipped in his fellow’s blood,
The living bird went free:
The type, well understood,
Expressed the sinner’s plea—
Described the guilty soul enlarged,
And by the Savior’s death discharged.
6 Jesus, I love to trace
Throughout the sacred page,
The footsteps of Thy grace,
The same in every age!
O grant that I may faithful be
To clearer light vouchsafed to me Used With Tune: SAMUEL Text Sources: Olney Hymns (London, W. Oliver, 1779), Book 1
Israel In Ancient Days
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