The Death and Excellency of Christ

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The things on earth which men esteem

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1 The things on earth which men esteem,
And of their richness boast,
In value less or greater seem,
Proportioned to their cost.

2 [The diamond, that’s for thousands sold,
Our admiration draws;
For dust men seldom part with gold,
Or barter pearls for straws.]

3 Then what inestimable worth
Must in those crowns appear,
For which the Lord came down to earth,
And bought for us, so dear!

4 The Father dearly loves the Son,
And rates his merits high;
For no mean cause he sent him down
To suffer, grieve, and die.

5 The blessings from his death that flow,
So little we esteem,
Only because we slightly know,
And meanly value him.

6 [’Twas our Creator for us bled,
The Lord of life and power;
Whom angels worship, devils dread –
God blest for evermore.]

7 O could we but with clearer eyes
His excellencies trace,
Could we his person learn to prize,
We more should prize his grace.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #803a

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Author: J. Hart

Hart, Joseph, was born in London in 1712. His early life is involved in obscurity. His education was fairly good; and from the testimony of his brother-in-law, and successor in the ministry in Jewin Street, the Rev. John Hughes, "his civil calling was" for some time "that of a teacher of the learned languages." His early life, according to his own Experience which he prefaced to his Hymns, was a curious mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and endeavours after amendment of life, and not until Whitsuntide, 1757, did he realize a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending divine service at the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Rev. iii. 10. During the next two years ma… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	The things on earth which men esteem
Title:	The Death and Excellency of Christ
Author:	J. Hart
Meter:	8.6.8.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain