Scripture Verse

The Gospel of His Son. Romans 1:9

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bu­rton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 371. The Gos­pel of Christ.

Music: Gros­tette Hen­ry W. Great­or­ex, 1851 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Bed­dome or Great­or­ex (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

God, in the Gos­pel of His Son,
Makes His eter­nal coun­sels known;
’Tis here His rich­est mer­cy shines,
And truth is drawn in fair­est lines.

Here, sin­ners of a hum­ble frame
May taste His grace, and learn His name;
’Tis writ in char­ac­ters of blood,
Severely just, im­mense­ly good

Here, Je­sus in ten thou­sand ways,
His soul-at­tract­ing charms dis­plays,
Recounts His po­ver­ty and pains,
And tells His love in melt­ing strains.

Wisdom its dic­tates here im­parts,
To form our minds, re­new our hearts;
Its in­flu­ence makes the sin­ner live,
And bids the droop­ing saint re­vive.

Our rag­ing pas­sions it con­trols,
And com­fort yields to con­trite souls;
It brings a bet­ter world in view,
And guides us all our jour­ney through.