I brought my merits to the throne

Translator: John Brownlie (1907)
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

I
I brought my merits to the throne,
And set them forth in order there;
I said, “O Lord, Thy servant own,
And let his brow the garland wear;
The grace and virtue of his life,
He won as victor in the strife.”

II
The song that erstwhile filled the place,
Where high the throne of Christ was set,
Grew faint, as on each pensive face
Joy mixed with pain, and pity met;—
Their song had told the debt they owed,
And how the Christ His grace bestowed.

III
O, silence fell, so sharp and chill,—
My soul to meanness pined and shrank,
Forth went my cry in accent shrill,
“My Lord, have I no grace to thank?”
Its echo dying, lingered, sank,
“My Lord, have I no grace to thank?”

IV
I saw His piercéd hands and side,
I saw the thorn-wounds on His brow,—
“My Lord, forgive my sinful pride,
Accept my sore repentance now;”
Then rose high heaven’s adoring prayers,
My grateful song went forth with theirs.

Hymns from the East, 1907

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Translator: John Brownlie

Brownlie, John, was born at Glasgow, Aug. 6, 1857, and was educated at Glasgow University, and at the Free Church College in the same city. In 1884 he was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow; in 1885 he became Assistant Minister of the Free Church, Portpatrick, and on the death of the Senior Minister in 1890 he entered upon the full charge of the Church there. He has interested himself in educational matters, became a Member of the local School Board in 1888, a governor of Stranraer High School in 1897, and Chairman of the governors in 1901. His hymnological works are:— 1. The Hymns and Hymnwriters of the [Scottish] Church Hymnary, 1899. This is a biographical, historical, and critical companion to that hymnal, and is well done and… Go to person page >

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