Not what these hands have done

1. Not what these hands have done

    Can save my guilty soul;

    Not what my toiling flesh has borne

    Can make my spirit whole.

    Not what I feel or do

    Can give me peace with God;

    Not all my prayers, and sighs and tears,

    Can bear my awful load.

2. Thy work alone, O Christ,

    Can ease this weight of sin;

    Thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,

    Can give me peace within.

    Thy love to me, O God,

    Not mine, O Lord, to Thee,

    Can rid me of this dark unrest,

    And set my spirit free.

3. Thy grace alone, O Lord,

    Can speak to me of grace;

    Thy power alone, O Son of God,

    Can this sore bondage break.

    No other work, save Thine,

    No meaner blood will do;

    No strength, save that which is divine,

    Can bear me safely through.

4. I bless the Christ of God;

    I rest on love divine;

    And with unfalt’ring lip and heart,

    I call this Savior mine.

    His cross dispels each doubt;

    I bury in His tomb

    Each thought of unbelief and fear,

    Each ling’ring shade of gloom.

5. I praise the God of grace;

    I trust His truth and might;

    He calls me His, I call Him mine,

    My God, my joy and light.

    In Him is only good,

    In me is only ill;

    My ill but draws His goodness forth,

    And me He loveth still.

6.’Tis He who saveth me,

    And freely pardon gives;

    I love because He loveth me,

    I live because He lives.

    My life with Him is hid,

    My death has passed away;

    My clouds have melted into light,

    My midnight into day.

– By Horatius Bonar. (Meter S.M.D.)