A man of sorrows and with grief acquainted, 
 He bowed His beauteous head to the rude hands 
 Of Pilate?s hireling bands; 
And while beneath their cruel scourge He fainted, 
 Forgave them, yearning through His shameful smart 
 Even with a brother?s heart. 
And when upon their Roman cross they nailed Him, 
 With mocking hatred and scorn?s bitter smile, 
 Hark! How He prayed, the while 
Nature?s extremest agony assailed Him? 
 ?Father, Thy mercy unto these renew, 
 They know not what they do.? 

For the great precept of His Christianity 
 Was always, ?Live in charity; yea, live 
 To love and to forgive, 
That so My spirit may through all humanity 
 Pass ever downward with a widening birth, 
 Till peace possess the earth.?