Scripture Verse

His children shall have a place of refuge. Proverbs 14:26

Introduction

Words: George P. R. Ew­ens, in the Sal­va­tion Ar­my’s War Cry, June 16, 1881. This song has pub­lished and adapt­ed ma­ny times, some­times giv­ing cre­dit to dif­fer­ent au­thors and com­pos­ers.

Music: Adapt­ed from Ed­ward E. Nick­er­son, High­way Hymns (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: 1886), num­ber 20 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Ew­ens (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Nick­er­son,

portrait
Edward E. Nickerson, 1884

Lyrics

If you want pa­rdon, if you want peace,
If you want sor­row and sigh­ing to cease,
Look up to Je­sus who died on the tree
To pur­chase a full sal­va­tion.

Refrain

Living be­neath the shade of the cross,
Counting the jew­els of earth but dross,
Cleansed in the blood that flows from His side,
Enjoying a full sal­va­tion.

If you want Je­sus’ reign in your soul,
Plunge in the foun­tain and you shall be whole,
Washed in the blood of the cru­ci­fied One,
Enjoying a full sal­va­tion.

Refrain

If you want bold­ness, join in the fight;
If you want pur­ity, walk in the light;
If you want li­ber­ty, shout and be free,
Enjoying a full sal­va­tion.

Refrain

If you’d be ho­ly, cling to the cross,
Counting earth’s rich­es as no­thing but dross;
Down at His feet you’ll be cleansed and made free
Enjoying a full sal­va­tion.

Refrain