Israel in ancient days

The words

1. 1

   Stanza 1. Israel in ancient days,Not only had a viewOf Sinai in a blaze,But learned the gospel too:The types and figures were a glassIn which they saw the Savior’s face.

2. 2

   Stanza 2. The paschal sacrifice,And blood–besprinkled door,Seen with enlightened eyes,And once applied with pow’r;Would teach the need of other blood,To reconcile an angry God.

3. 3

   Stanza 3. The Lamb, the Dove, set forthHis perfect innocence,Whose blood, of matchless worth,Should be the soul’s defence:For he who can for sin atone,Must have no failings of his own.

4. 4

   Stanza 4. The scape–goat on his headThe peoples’ trespass bore,And to the desert led,Was to be seen no more:In him, our Surety seemed to say,“Behold, I bear your sins away.”

5. 5

   Stanza 5. Dipped in his fellows’ blood,The living bird went free,The type, well understood,Expressed the sinner’s plea;Described a guilty soul enlarged,And by a Savior’s death discharged.

6. 6

   Stanza 6. Jesus I love to traceThroughout the sacred page;The footsteps of thy grace,The same in every age!O grant that I may faithful beTo clearer light, vouchsafed to me.

Olney Hymns (1779), Book 1, Hymn 132. William Cowper. Public domain. CCEL transcription with modernized spelling. www.praylock.com/olney-hymns/1-132