

                        "Chief of Sinners Though I Be"
                        by William McComb, 1793-c. 1870
                                  Text From:
                      THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
               (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.244
                                       


	Chief of sinners though I be,
	Jesus shed His blood for me;
	Died that I might live on high,
	Lived that I might never die,
	As the branch is to the vine,
	I am His, and He is mine.
	
	2. Oh, the height of Jesus' love!
	Higher than the heavens above,
	Deeper than the depths of sea,
	Lasting as eternity.
	Love that found me--wondrous thought!--
	Found me when I sought Him not.
	
	3. Jesus only can impart
	Balm to heal the smitten heart;
	Peace that flows from sin forgiven,
	Joy that lifts the soul to heaven;
	Faith and hope to walk with God
	In the way that Enoch trod.
	
	4. Chief of sinner though I be,
	Christ is All in all to me;
	All my wants to Him are known,
	All my sorrows are His own.
	Safe with Him from earthly strife,
	He sustains the hidden life. 
	
	5. O my Savior, help afford
	By Thy Spirit and Thy Word!
	When my wayward heart would stray,
	Keep me in the narrow way;
	Grace in time of need supply
	While I live and when I die.

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        Notes:
        Hymn #342 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Rom. 5:8
        Author: William McComb, 1864
        Composer: Richard Redhead, 1853
        Tune: "Gethsemane"
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
           by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may
         freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any
            comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the
              Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.
                                       
                          E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu
                                       
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