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Advent Hymnals

Hymns and Tunes 1886 374

In Vain We Seek for Peace with God

Words: Isaac Watts8s, 6s, & 4s

Studio

1In vain we seek for peace with God
By methods of our own;
No outward forms can cleanse the blood
Can bring us near the throne.

2The threatenings of the broken law
Nor flesh nor soul can ward;
If God his sword of vengeance draw,
It strikes the spirit dead.

3But thine illustrious sacrifice
Hath answered these demands,
And peace and pardon from the skies
Are offered by thy hands.

4'Tis by thy death we live, O Lord!
'Tis on thy cross we rest,
Forever be thy love adored,
Thy name forever blessed.

Scripture
Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:13-16; Colossians 1:20

Public Domain

The verse

Meter
8.7.8.6 · the hymnal prints 8s, 6s, & 4s
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 61% of beats fit
Rhyme
ABCB
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

In vain we seek for peace with God˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
By methods of our own;˘/˘˘/˘/7B
No outward forms can cleanse the blood˘/˘/˘/˘/8C
Can bring us near the throne.˘/˘/˘/6B

Verse 2

The threatenings of the broken law˘/˘˘˘˘/˘/9A
Nor flesh nor soul can ward;˘/˘/˘/6B
If God his sword of vengeance draw,˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
It strikes the spirit dead.˘/˘/˘/6C

Verse 3

But thine illustrious sacrifice˘///˘˘/˘/9A
Hath answered these demands,//˘˘˘/6B
And peace and pardon from the skies˘/˘/˘˘˘/8C
Are offered by thy hands.˘/˘˘//6B

Verse 4

'Tis by thy death we live, O Lord!/˘//˘/˘/8A
'Tis on thy cross we rest,/˘//˘/6B
Forever be thy love adored,˘/˘˘//˘/8A
Thy name forever blessed.//˘/˘/6B

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.