Hymn
Substantial Compassion
When Jesus dwelt in mortal clay,
What were His works from day to day,
But miracles of pow'r and grace,
Which spread salvation thro' our race?
Teach us, O Lord, to keep in view
Thy pattern, and Thy steps pursue:
Let alms bestowed, let kindness done,
Be witnessed by each rolling sun.
That man may last, but never lives,
Who much receives, but nothing gives:
Whom none can love, whom none can thank,
Creation's blot, creation's blank.
But he who marks from day to day
In gen'rous acts his radiant way,
The same path treads the Savior trod,
The path to glory and to God.
Substantial Compassion — Text from Evangelical Lutheran hymnal, 1908. Public domain. https://yeshuanow.com/hymns/substantial-compassion
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Questions about this hymn
Who wrote Substantial Compassion?
The words of Substantial Compassion were written by Thomas Gibbons; the version here was published in 1908. The library holds 3 more hymns by Thomas Gibbons, including Prayer for Missionaries and Thy goodness, Lord, our souls confess.
Is Substantial Compassion public domain?
Yes. The words here are taken from Evangelical Lutheran hymnal, published in 1908. Works published before 1931 are out of copyright in the United States, so you can print, project, perform and record this hymn freely. How we source and check every hymn.
What is the metre of Substantial Compassion?
Substantial Compassion is in Long Metre (8.8.8.8). Hymns in the same metre can usually be sung to the same tunes — for example, The Church's Safety and Triumph Among National Desolations, An Evening Hymn and In the Sanctuary.