Let thy blood in mercy poured

1. Let thy blood in mercy poured,
Let thy gracious body broken,
Be to me, O gracious Lord,
Of thy boundless love the token.
Thou didst give thyself for me,
Now I give myself to thee.

2. Thou didst die that I might live;—
Blessed Lord, thou cam’st to save me;
All that love of God could give,
Jesus by his sorrows gave me;—
Thou didst give thyself for me,
Now I give myself to thee.

3. By the thorns that crowned thy brow,
By the spear wound and the nailing,
By the pain and death, I now
Claim, O Christ, thy love unfailing.
Thou didst give thyself for me,
Now I give myself to thee.

4. Wilt thou own the gift I bring?
All my penitence I give thee;
Thou art my exalted King,
Of thy matchless love forgive me;—
Thou didst give thyself for me,
Now I give myself to thee.

“Let thy blood in mercy poured,” is a communion hymn, based on an old Greek hymn translated by John Brownlie of Scotland – or rather a loose paraphrase. Regarding the hymns in the Hymns From the East (Paisley: Alexander Gardner, 1907, p. 12), Brownlie said he used the Greek “as a basis, a theme, a motive…” This particular hymn is found on pages 89-90. It is six lines of 7s.8s. meter (in this case 7.8.7.8.7.7.). It often is paired with the tune Jesus, Meine Zuversicht, by Johann Crüger.

John Brownlie was born at Glasgow, Scotland, August 6, 1857. He studied at Glasgow University, and the Free Church College in Glasgow. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Glasgow in 1884. In 1890 he became the senior minister of the Trinity Free Church in Portpatrick. Brownlie created several hymnological works and in 1908 Glasgow University awarded him an honorary D.D. degree for his work in hymnology. Brownlie married Alison Kerr Rutherford, who died in 1934. He died November 18, 1925. They are buried at the Portpatrick Cemetery in Portpatrick, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.