We sing the praise of him who died

We sing the praise of him who died,
of him who died upon the cross;
the sinner’s hope let men deride-
for this we count the world but loss.

2. Inscribed upon the cross we see
in shining letters, ‘God is love’;
he bears our sins upon the tree,
he brings us mercy from above.

3. The cross-it takes our guilt away,
it holds the fainting spirit up;
it cheers with hope the gloomy day
and sweetens every bitter cup:

4. It makes the coward spirit brave
and nerves the feeble arm for fight;
it takes the terror from the grave
and gilds the bed of death with light:

5. The balm of life, the cure of woe,
the measure and the pledge of love;
the sinner’s refuge here below,
the angels’ theme in heaven above.