Hail, thou once despised Jesus

Hail, thou once despised Jesus. (?) John Bakewell* (1721-1819). This hymn appeared without an author’s name in A Collection of Hymns addressed to the Holy, Holy, Holy, triune God, in the Person of Christ Jesus, our Mediator and Advocate (1757). It had two 8-line stanzas. In 1760 it was enlarged to twice the original length, with the addition of an 8-line stanza beginning ‘Paschal Lamb by God appointed’ and two further quatrains, one beginning There for Sinners thou art pleading ‘Spare them yet another Year’ the other reading: Help, ye bright angelic Spirits, Bring your sweetest, noblest Lays, Help to sing our Jesu’s Merits, Help to chaunt Immanuel’s Praise! It appeared in this...