Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary ‎#489

489. The Law Commands and Makes Us Know

1 The Law commands and makes us know
What duties to our God we owe;
But 'tis the gospel must reveal
Where lies our strength to do His will.

2 The Law discovers guilt and sin
And shows how vile our hearts have been;
The gospel only can express
Forgiving love and cleansing grace.

3 What curses doth the Law denounce
Against the man that fails but once!
But in the gospel Christ appears,
Pard'ning the guilt of num'rous years.

4 My soul, no more attempt to draw
Thy life and comfort from the Law.
Fly to the hope the Gospel gives;
The man that trusts the promise lives.

Text Information

• First Line: The Law commands and makes us know
• Title: The Law Commands and Makes Us Know
• Author: I. Watts, 1674-1748
• Meter: L M
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1996
• Topic: Law and Gospel; Trinity 18

Tune Information

• Name: OLD HUNDREDTH
• Composer: L. Bourgeois, c. 1510-1561
• Meter: L M
• Key: F Major