He Gave His Only Begotten Son

Gracious Lord, incline thine ear

Author: William Hammond
Published in 72 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Gracious Lord, incline thy ear;
My requests vouchsafe to hear;
Hear my never-ceasing cry;
Give me Christ, or else I die.

2 Wealth and honour I disdain,
Earthly comforts, Lord, are vain;
These can never satisfy;
Give me Christ, or else I die.

3 Lord, deny me what thou wilt,
Only ease me of my guilt.
Suppliant at thy feet I lie;
Give me Christ, or else I die.

4 All unholy and unclean,
I am nothing else but sin;
On thy mercy I rely;
Give me Christ, or else I die.

5 Thou dost freely save the lost;
In thy grace alone I trust.
With my earnest suit comply;
Give me Christ, or else I die.

6 Thou dost promise to forgive
All who in thy Son believe;
Lord, I know thou canst not lie;
Give me Christ, or else I die.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #737

Author: William Hammond

Hammond, William, B.A, born at Battle, Sussex, Jan. 6, 1719, and educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. In 1743 he joined the Calvinistic Methodists; and in 1745, the Moravian Brethren. He died in London, Aug. 19, 1783, and was buried in the Moravian burial-ground, Sloane Street, Chelsea. He left an Autobiography in Greek, which remains unpublished. His original hymns, together with his translations from the Latin, were published in his:— Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. To which is prefix'd A Preface, giving some Account of a Weak Faith, and a Full Assurance of Faith; and briefly stating the Doctrine of Sanctification; and shewing a Christian's Completeness, Perfection, and Happiness in Christ. By William Hammond, A.B., late of… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Gracious Lord, incline thine ear
Title: He Gave His Only Begotten Son
Author: William Hammond
Meter: 7.7.7.7
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Gracious Lord, incline Thine ear. W. Hammond. [Christ desired.] First published in his Psalms & Hymns, 1745, p. 258, in 10 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "I am sick of love. Cant. ii. 5," the opening stanza reading: —

“Gracious Lord, incline Thine Ear,
My Complaint vouchsafe to hear;
Faint and Sick of Love am I,
Give me Christ, or else I die."

In 1787 Dr. Rippon, on including the hymn in his Baptist Selection, No. 296, omitted stanzas ii., vii. and ix., and re-wrote stanza i., thus:—

"Gracious Lord, incline Thine ear,
My request vouchsafe to hear;
Hear my never-ceasing cry;—
Give me Christ, or else I die."

This form of the hymn is in use amongst the Baptists, both in England and America. Another form in 6 stanzas (omitting stanzas ii., vi., vii., ix. was given in Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody,1833, No. 644, with stanza i. as:—

“Gracious Lord, incline Thine ear,
My request vouchsafe to hear;
Burden'd with my sins I cry,
Give me Christ, or else I die."

This form of the hymn is in limited use in the Church of England.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 72 of 72)
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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #265

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A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #667

A New and Beautiful Collection of Select Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d104

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A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #698

A Prayer Meeting and Revival Hymn Book . 27th ed. #d151

A Prayer Meeting and Revival Hymn Book. 5th ed. #d98

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A Selection of Hymns & Psalms #220

A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d76

A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs from the Best Authors #d71

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #S.XVI

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #S.XVI

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A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors. #296a

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A Selection of Hymns, from the Best Authors #84

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A Selection of Hymns #CCXCVI

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A Selection of Psalms and Hymns #288

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A Selection of Psalms and Hymns #CCLXXXVIII

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A Selection of Psalms and Hymns #288

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Baptist Hymn Book #a729

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Christian's Duty, exhibited in a series of hymns #92

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Dupuy's Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Rev. corr. and enl.) #S63

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Evangelical Hymns #184

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians. 9th ed. #d65

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians. 8th ed. #d63

Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Selected and Original. 7th ed. #d146

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Hymns for the Sanctuary and Social Worship #510

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Hymns of the "Jubilee Harp" #a363

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Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship #281

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Hymns, Selected and Original #281

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Hymns #281

Revival Hymns #d54

Revival Hymns ... with a Supplement. 2nd ed. #d87

Revival Hymns. 4th ed. #d33

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The Advent Harp; designed for believers in the speedy coming of Christ #52

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book for Public Worship #399

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book, for Public Worship #137.399

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The Baptist Hymn Book #399

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The Baptist Hymn Book #729

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The Baptist Psalmody #462

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The Canadian Baptist Hymn Book #327

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The Christian Harmonist #143

The Christian Hymn Book #d203

The Christian Hymn Book (Ohio Auglaize Christian Conference) #d87

The Christian Hymn Book. 7th ed. #d205

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The Christian Hymn-Book (Corr. and Enl., 3rd. ed.) #53

The Christian Lyre #d117

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The Christian Psalmist #S78

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The Christian's Duty #XCII

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The Christians Duty, exhibited, in a series of Hymns #XCII

The Church Hymn Book #d305

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The Jubilee Harp #363

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The Praise Offering #27

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The Psalmist #S44

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The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #1014a

The Sacred Lute #d111

The Sacred Songster. 5th ed. #d62

The Soldier's Hymn Book. 2nd ed. #d74

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The Zion Songster #131

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The Zion Songster #131

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Zion's Songster #20

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