And Wilt Thou Pardon, Lord

And Wilt Thou Pardon, Lord is a hymn text by Cornelius Elven (1860) in L.M. meter. Found in lw 263, tlh 322. Sung to WOODWORTH.

The hymn embodies Lutheran penitential theology, expressing confession of sin and trust in divine forgiveness as central to the Christian life. It reflects the Reformed-Lutheran emphasis on God's merciful pardon freely given to the contrite heart.

History & Background

Written by Cornelius Elven, an English Independent minister, in the 19th century as a penitential hymn. The hymn was included in TLH (The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941) as hymn 322 and appeared in Lutheran worship materials throughout the 20th century.

Hymnal Appearances

• Lutheran Worship — 263
• The Lutheran Hymnal — 322

Bulletin Note

Written by English hymnodist Cornelius Elven in 1860, this long-meter hymn crystallizes Reformed-Lutheran penitential theology: the hard honesty of confession met by the free grace of absolution.

Preaching Connection

This hymn embodies the Law-Gospel movement: it confronts human unworthiness and sin, then pivots decisively to confident appeal for divine forgiveness, making it a powerful musical echo of repentance theology.

Catechism & Confessional Connections

• Confession of Sin Small Catechism — Confession

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Psalm 23 Christological transformation: establishment of Christ's sovereign care (1-2) → confession of human waywardness and divine retrieval (3) → victory over death through Christ's passion (4) → sacramental communion and eschatological promise (5-6)

Overview

A penitential hymn from the Greek Church by Joseph the Hymnographer, a 9th-century Sicilian monk in Constantinople, translated by J. M. Neale. Will you pardon a sinner like me, though your book records crimes of crimson dye? (st. 1); they are so deeply engraved; if the righteous are scarcely saved, where shall I appear? (st. 2); blessed Physician, cleanse and restore me (st. 3); I don't know how to praise your mercy, but raise my soul to learn it above (st. 4).

Central theme: A sinner's astonished question whether such guilt can be pardoned, answered by turning to the Physician

Structure

Four short-meter quatrains. The question (1) — terror (2) — the Physician (3) — praise above (4).

Law & Gospel Shape

Law: crimes recorded in crimson; 'where shall I appear?' (1-2). Gospel: 'Physician blest… make clean… restore' (3).

Confessional Connections

Ps 143:4 (TLH's text; Ps 143:2: 'Enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is righteous before you'). St. 1-2 are contrition — terror of conscience before God's judgment (AC XII.4; Ap XII.29-32), quoting 1 Pet 4:18. St. 3 turns to Christ the Physician (Matt 9:12) — faith that grasps forgiveness. The question 'And wilt Thou pardon?' is answered by the Gospel, not by the sinner's improvement: 'Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow' (Isa 1:18).

Liturgical Use (Study Notes)

Lent; Confession; penitential services.

Historical Notes

Joseph (c. 816-886), born in Sicily, monk and hymnographer in Constantinople, prolific writer of canons. Neale translated it in Hymns of the Eastern Church (1862).

About the Tune

ST. BRIDE (Samuel Howard, 1762).

Scripture References

Ps 143:2-4 1 Tim 1:15 Rev 20:12 Isa 1:18 Jer 17:1 1 Pet 4:18 Prov 11:31 Matt 9:12 Ps 51:2 Ps 41:4 Eph 3:18-19

Stanza by Stanza

Themes

Repentance Forgiveness of sins God's mercy Contrition Reconciliation

Look Further

• Search Hymnary.org for "And Wilt Thou Pardon, Lord" ↗
• Search IMSLP for public-domain scores of "WOODWORTH" ↗