Hymns of Faith by Horatius Bonar

"Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die; another's life, another's death, I stake my whole eternity."

Horatius Bonar

- Hymns of Faith 1881

 The original version was written by Horatius Bonar in 1881 as a communion hymn. The entire poem, containing a number of additional stanzas, is below. 

On merit not my own I stand;

On doings which I have not done,

Merit beyond what I can claim,

Doings more perfect than my own.

Upon a life I have not lived,

Upon a death I did not die,

Another’s life, Another’s death,

I stake my whole eternity.

Not on the tears which I have shed:

Not on the sorrows I have known,

Another’s tears, Another’s griefs,

On them I rest, on them alone.

Jesus, O Son of God, I build

On what Thy cross has done for me;

There both my death and life I read,

My guilt, my pardon there I see.

Lord, I believe; oh deal with me

As one who has Thy word believed!

I take the gift, Lord look on me

As one who has Thy gift received.

I taste the love the gift contains,

I clasp the pardon which it brings,

And pass up to the living source

Above, whence all this fullness springs.

Here at Thy feast, I grasp the pledge

Which life eternal to me seals,

Here in the bread and wine I read

The grace and peace Thy death reveals.

O fullness of the eternal grace,

O wonders past all wondering!

Here in the hall of love and song,

We sing the praises of our King.