From Shakespeare's play Macbeth:
ACT V
SCENE I. Dunsinane. Ante-room in the castle.
Enter a Doctor of Physic and a Waiting-Gentlewoman
Doctor
I have two nights watched with you, but can perceiveGentlewoman
no truth in your report. When was it she last walked?
Since his majesty went into the field, I have seenDoctor
her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon
her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it,
write upon't, read it, afterwards seal it, and again
return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep.
A great perturbation in nature, to receive at onceGentlewoman
the benefit of sleep, and do the effects of
watching! In this slumbery agitation, besides her
walking and other actual performances, what, at any
time, have you heard her say?
That, sir, which I will not report after her.Doctor
You may to me: and 'tis most meet you should.Gentlewoman
Neither to you nor any one; having no witness toEnter LADY MACBETH, with a taper
confirm my speech.
Lo you, here she comes! This is her very guise;Doctor
and, upon my life, fast asleep. Observe her; stand close.
How came she by that light?Gentlewoman
Why, it stood by her: she has light by herDoctor
continually; 'tis her command.
You see, her eyes are open.Gentlewoman
Ay, but their sense is shut.Doctor
What is it she does now? Look, how she rubs her hands.Gentlewoman
It is an accustomed action with her, to seem thusLADY MACBETH
washing her hands: I have known her continue in
this a quarter of an hour.
Yet here's a spot.Doctor
Hark! she speaks: I will set down what comes fromLADY MACBETH
her, to satisfy my remembrance the more strongly.
Out, damned spot! out, I say!--One: two: why,Doctor
then, 'tis time to do't.--Hell is murky!--Fie, my
lord, fie! a soldier, and afeard? What need we
fear who knows it, when none can call our power to
account?--Yet who would have thought the old man
to have had so much blood in him.
Do you mark that?LADY MACBETH
The thane of Fife had a wife: where is she now?--Doctor
What, will these hands ne'er be clean?--No more o'
that, my lord, no more o' that: you mar all with
this starting.
Go to, go to; you have known what you should not.Gentlewoman
She has spoke what she should not, I am sure ofLADY MACBETH
that: heaven knows what she has known.
Here's the smell of the blood still: all theDoctor
perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little
hand. Oh, oh, oh!
What a sigh is there! The heart is sorely charged.Gentlewoman
I would not have such a heart in my bosom for theDoctor
dignity of the whole body.
Well, well, well,--Gentlewoman
Pray God it be, sir.Doctor
This disease is beyond my practise: yet I have knownLADY MACBETH
those which have walked in their sleep who have died
holily in their beds.
Wash your hands, put on your nightgown; look not soDoctor
pale.--I tell you yet again, Banquo's buried; he
cannot come out on's grave.
Even so?LADY MACBETH
To bed, to bed! there's knocking at the gate:Exit
come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What's
done cannot be undone.--To bed, to bed, to bed!
Doctor
Will she go now to bed?Gentlewoman
Directly.Doctor
Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deedsGentlewoman
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets:
More needs she the divine than the physician.
God, God forgive us all! Look after her;
Remove from her the means of all annoyance,
And still keep eyes upon her. So, good night:
My mind she has mated, and amazed my sight.
I think, but dare not speak.
Good night, good doctor.Exeunt
In this scene, Lady Macbeth's guilt for her participation in the killing of the king, as well as her knowledge of other murders resulting from her husband's ascent to the throne of Scotland, are causing her to have hallucinations. The famous line "Out, damned spot! out, I say!" is in reference to the blood she dreams is on her hands from helping murder her sovereign. To her, the blood, which no amount of washing can remove, is a sign of the gnawing, haunting guilt that plagues her. For the queen of Scotland, blood represents her guilt and sinfulness.
Contrarily, for the Christian blood is a sure sign of our righteousness and our good standing with our Sovereign. Romans 5:9 states, "Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God." The blood of Jesus is evidence that our guilt has been removed and our consciences are cleared. Unlike Lady Macbeth, the Christians only hope is in the fact that the blood cannot be removed.
1. What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain:
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
2. For my pardon this I see:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Refrain)
3. Nothing can for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Refrain)
4. This is all my hope and peace:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
(Refrain)
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