Today’s hymn of hopeful repentance comes from a Scottish author and hymnist who may not have the name recognition of Wesley and Watts but deserves to be widely known for his rich theological hymns. Honatius Bonar (1808-1889) published this hymn in 1866.

1 No, not despairingly come I to thee;
no, not distrustingly bend I the knee:
sin hath gone over me, yet is this still my plea,
Jesus hath died.

2 Ah! mine iniquity crimson has been,
infinite, infinite, sin upon sin;
sin of not loving thee, sin of not trusting thee,
infinite sin.

3 Lord, I confess to thee sadly my sin;
all I am tell I thee, all I have been:
purge thou my sin away, wash thou my soul this day;
Lord, make me clean.

4 Faithful and just art thou, forgiving all;
loving and kind art thou when poor ones call:
Lord, let the cleansing blood, blood of the Lamb of God,
pass o’er my soul.

5 Then all is peace and light this soul within;
thus shall I walk with thee, the loved Unseen;
leaning on thee, my God, guided along the road,
nothing between.