“Why camest Thou down hither?”
Men ask with angry sneer,
“Why camest Thou down hither?”
We do not want Thee here.
We do not want Thy teaching,
We’d nail Thee to a Cross,
We will not hear Thy preaching,
Why camest Thou unto us?
“Why camest Thou down hither?”
They ask in careless ease,
“Why camest Thou down hither?”
Oh, Let us live in peace!
Why tell us of Hell Fire?
We do not want to hear,
“Why camest Thou down hither?”
For Thee we do not care.
“Why camest Thou down hither?”
The sinner asks in fear.
“Why camest Thou down hither?”
Wilt Thou torment me here?
I’d flee,―But, Oh, flee whither?
Where find a hiding place?
“Why camest Thou down hither?”
I cannot meet Thy face.
“Why camest Thou down hither?”
Was it to slay Thy foes?
Oh, No, most blessed Savior,
‘Twas Grace no mortal knows.
O Thou most wondrous Lover,
Thou lov’st Thine enemies,
For them Thou cam’st down hither
To die between two thieves.
“Why earnest Thou down hither?”
Was it to seek for me?
“Why earnest Thou down hither?”
When I had hated Thee.
Why leave Thy throne in glory
For such a worm as I?
“Why earnest Thou down hither?”
It was for me to die.
“Why earnest Thou down hither?”
The mysteries deeper grow
As more I know my Savior,
And more myself I know.
As Thou, Thyself, I ponder,
And all my failure see, I’m lost,
O Lord, in wonder That Thou cam’st
D
O
W
N
for me!