Scripture Verse

We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace. Ephesians 1:7

Introduction

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Fun­er­al Hymns, se­cond edi­tion (Lon­don: 1759).

Music: Holm­firth Ben­ja­min Gill, 1905 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Gill (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Lyrics

How hap­py ev­ery child of grace,
Who knows his sins for­giv­en!
This earth, he cries, is not my place,
I seek my place in Hea­ven—
A coun­try far from mor­tal sight,
Which yet by faith I see,
The land of rest, the saints’ de­light,
The Hea­ven pre­pared for me.

O what a bless­èd hope is ours!
While here on earth we stay,
We more than taste the hea­ven­ly pow­ers,
And an­te­date that day.
We feel the re­sur­rect­ion near,
Our life in Christ con­cealed,
And with His glo­ri­ous pre­sence here
Our earth­en ves­sels filled.

O would He more of Hea­ven be­stow,
And let the ves­sels break,
And let our ran­somed spi­rits go
To grasp the God we seek;
In rap­tur­ous awe on Him to gaze,
Who bought the sight for me;
And shout and won­der at His grace
Through all eter­ni­ty!