244. One Priest Alone Can Pardon Me

P.M.
1
One Priest alone can pardon me,
 
Or bid me, "Go in peace,"
 
Can breathe that word, "Absolvo te,"
 
And make these heartthrobs cease;
 
My soul has heard His priestly voice;
 
It said, "I bore thy sins; rejoice!"
2
He showed the spear-mark in His side,
 
The nail-print on His palm;
 
Said, "Look on Me, the Crucified;
 
Why tremble thus? Be calm!
 
All power is Mine — I set thee free — 
 
Be not afraid — <OS>Absolvo te.<CS>"
3
By Him my soul is purified,
 
Once leprous and defiled;
 
Cleansed by the water and the blood,
 
God sees me as a child:
 
No priest can heal or cleanse but He;
 
No other say, "Absolvo te."
4
He robed me in a priestly dress,
 
That I might incense bring
 
Of prayer, and praise, and righteousness,
 
To heaven’s eternal King;
 
And when He gave this robe to me,
 
He smiled and said, "Absolvo te."
5
In heaven He stands before the throne,
 
The great High Priest above,
 
"Melchisedec" — that One alone
 
Can sin’s dark stain remove;
 
To Him I look on bended knee,
 
And hear that sweet "Absolvo te."
6
"A little while" and He shall come
 
Forth from the inner shrine,
 
To call His pardoned brethren home;
 
Oh bliss supreme, divine!
 
When every blood-bought child shall see
 
The Priest who said, "Absolvo te."
Echoes of Grace Hymnbook Index