The famous Scottish preacher and hymn author Horatius Bonar (1808-1889) wrote this text, first published in his Hymns of Faith and Hope (2nd series, 1861). Bonar subtitled the text “Salvation through Christ alone,” and that is surely the theme of this wonderful hymn. Enjoy!

Not what these hands have done
can save this guilty soul;
not what this 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.

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 the dark unrest,
and set my spirit free.

Thy grace alone, O God, 
to me can pardon speak;
Thy pow’r alone, O Son of God, 
can this sore bondage break.
I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
and with unfalt’ring lip and heart,
I call this Saviour mine.

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