Christ, The Life Of All The Living

Christ, the Life of all the living,

Christ the Death of death, our foe,

Who Thyself for us once giving

To the darkest depths of woe,

Patiently didst yield Thy breath

But to save my soul from death;

Praise and glory ever be,

Blessèd Jesus, unto Thee.

Thou, O Christ, hast taken on Thee

Bitter strokes, a cruel rod;

Pain and scorn were heaped upon Thee,

O Thou sinless Son of God,

Only thus for me to win

Rescue from the bonds of sin;

Praise and glory ever be,

Blessèd Jesus, unto Thee.

Thou didst bear the smiting only

That it might not fall on me;

Stoodest falsely charged and lonely

That I might be safe and free;

Comfortless that I might know

Comfort from Thy boundless woe.

Praise and glory ever be,

Blessèd Jesus, unto Thee.

Heartless scoffers did surround Thee,

Treating Thee with shameful scorn

And with piercing thorns they crowned Thee,

All disgrace Thou, Lord, hast borne

That as Thine Thou mightest own me

And with heavenly glory crown me.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,

Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

Thou hast suffered men to bruise Thee

That from pain I might be free;

Falsely did Thy foes accuse Thee,

Thence I gain security;

Comfortless Thy soul did languish

Me to comfort in my anguish.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,

Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

Thou hast suffered great affliction,

And hast borne it patiently,

Even death by crucifixion,

Fully to atone for me;

Thou didst choose to be tormented

That my doom should be prevented.

Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,

Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

Then, for all that wrought our pardon,

For Thy sorrows deep and sore,

For Thine anguish in the garden,

I will thank Thee evermore;

Thank Thee with my latest breath

For Thy sad and cruel death,

For that last and bitter cry

Praise Thee evermore on high.