Written by Charles Wesley and first published in 1740, “Depth of Mercy! Can There Be?” captures the anguish of sin, the mercy of God in Christ, the undeserved grace of God in justification, and the necessity of cooperation with the Spirit in our sanctification.

We aren't inclined to sing hymns of this length today, which—as we've seen in previous hymns—is to our detriment. This hymn is worthy of our close reading and meditation during the penitential season of Lent.

1. Depth of mercy! Can there be Mercy still reserved for me? Can my God His wrath forbear, Me, the chief of sinners, spare?

2. I have long withstood His grace, Long provoked Him to His face, Would not hearken to His calls, Grieved Him by a thousand falls.

3. I my master have denied, I afresh have crucified, And profaned His hallowed name, Put Him to an open shame.

4. I have spilt His precious blood, Trampled on the Son of God, Filled with pangs unspeakable, I, who yet am not in hell!

5. Lo! I still walk on the ground: Lo! an advocate is found: Hasten not to cut him down, Let this barren soul alone.

6. Jesus speaks, and pleads His blood! He disarms the wrath of God; Now my Father’s mercies move, Justice lingers into love.

7. Kindled His relentings are, Me He now delights to spare, Cries, How shall I give thee up? Lets the lifted thunder drop.

8. Whence to me this waste of love? Ask my advocate above! See the cause in Jesus’ face, Now before the throne of grace.

9. There for me the Savior stands, Shows His wounds and spreads His hands. God is love! I know, I feel; Jesus weeps and loves me still.

10. Jesus, answer from above, Is not all Thy nature love? Wilt Thou not the wrong forget, Permit me to kiss Thy feet?

11. If I rightly read Thy heart, If Thou all compassion art, Bow Thine ear, in mercy bow, Pardon and accept me now.

12. Pity from Thine eye let fall, By a look my soul recall; Now the stone to flesh convert, Cast a look, and break my heart.

13. Now incline me to repent, Let me now my sins lament, Now my foul revolt deplore, Weep, believe, and sin no more.

#hymnody #Lent

As we enter into this Lenten season, prayer is one of the disciplines that many Christians will focus on. This morning, I stumbled upon this prayer penned by Rafael Cardinal Merry Del Val (1865-1930), who served as the Secretary of State for Pope St. Pius X. There is nothing specifically Roman Catholic about it, nor is there any reason it cannot be prayed by any Christian, regardless of background. We would all do well to pray this litany slowly and thoughtfully.

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, hear me. From the desire of being esteemed, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being loved, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being extolled, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being honored, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being praised, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being preferred to others, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being consulted, deliver me, Jesus. From the desire of being approved, deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being humiliated, deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being despised, deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of suffering rebukes, deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being calumniated, deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being forgotten, deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being ridiculed, deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being wronged, deliver me, Jesus. From the fear of being suspected, deliver me, Jesus. That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be esteemed more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be chosen and I set aside, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be praised and I unnoticed, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may be preferred to me in everything, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. Amen.

Note: calumniated means maligned, slandered, or defamed

#Lent #prayers

Almighty and Everlasting God, Who hatest nothing that Thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we. worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.

—Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, 1917

#lent #prayers

As we enter in to the holy season of Lent, this hymn by Isaac Watts, based on Psalm 39, is a great guide for our meditation on our mortality and the hope we have in God. It has been sung to various tunes historically, but one of the most common is St. Columba, the familiar tune we know from “The King of Love My Shepherd Is.”

Teach me the measure of my days, Thou Maker of my frame! I would survey life's narrow space, And learn how frail I am.

A span is all that we can boast: A fleeting hour of time; Man is but vanity and dust, In all His flower and prime.

Vain race of mortals, see them move Like shadows o'er the plain: They rage and strive, desire and love, But all the noise is vain.

Some walk in honor's gaudy show; Some dig for golden ore; They toil for whom they do not know, And straight are seen no more.

What should I wish or wait for then, From creatures, earth, and dust? They make our expectations vain, And disappoint our trust.

Now I resign my earthly hope, My fond desires recall; I give my mortal interest up, And make my God my all.

#hymnody #Lent

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