Scripture Verse

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us. 1 John 3:1

Introduction

Words: Will­iam San­ders, in Col­lect­ion of Hymns for Camp Meet­ings, 1821.

Music: Stel­la (He­my) ar­ranged from an En­glish folk tune by Hen­ri F. He­my, Ea­sy Hymn Tunes for Cath­o­lic Schools 1851 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of San­ders or He­my (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

Lyrics

Behold, what wondrous love and grace!
When we were wretched and undone,
To save our ruined, helpless race,
The Father gave His only Son!
Of twice ten thousand gifts divine,
No gift like this could ever shine.

Jesus, to save us from our fall,
Was made incarnate here below;
This was the greatest gift of all—
Heaven could no greater gift bestow:
On Him alone our sins were laid;
He died, and now the ransom’s paid.

O gift of love unspeakable!
O gift of mercy all divine!
We once were slaves of death and hell,
But now we in His image shine.
For other gifts our songs we raise,
But this demands our highest praise.

Praise shall employ these tongues of ours
Till we, with all the hosts above,
Extol His name with nobler powers,
Lost in the ocean of His love:
While angel choirs with wonder gaze,
We’ll fill the heavens with shouts of praise.