1 I cannot drive the nails again,
I cannot thrust the spear of pain,
I cannot bear to see His grief and agony,
Repeating Calvary
By tho't of sin,
Repeating Calvary
By tho't of sin.
2 'Twas sin alone that nailed Him there,
'Twas love alone that made Him bear;
Sin's wage of death, our due,
Upon himself He drew
That we may live anew,
His glory share,
That we may live anew,
His glory share.
3 His power frees from fetters strong,
All who confess and turn from wrong:
He could have shunned the pain.
Sin's pow'r would yet remain:
Now law and pardon reign,
The angels' song,
Now law and pardon reign,
The angels' song.
4 My soul abhors His murd'rer sin,
No longer shall He dwell within;
But Christ, the living law,
Victor in holy war,
Enthroned forevermore,
Gives pow'r to win,
Enthroned forevermore,
Gives pow'r to win.
Source: Christ in Song: for all religious services nearly one thousand best gospel hymns, new and old with responsive scripture readings (Rev. and Enl.) #23
Belden was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. He began writing music in his late teenage years after moving to California with his family. For health reasons he later moved to Colorado. He returned to Battle Creek with his wife in the early 1880s, and there he became involved in Adventist Church publishing. F. E. Belden wrote many hymn tunes, gospel songs, and related texts in the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Belden was able to rapidly write both music and poetry together which enabled him to write a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He also wrote songs for evangelist Billy Sunday. Though Belden’s later years were marred by misunderstandings with the church leadership over his royal… Go to person page >
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