Scripture Verse

Every perfect gift is from above. James 1:17

Introduction

Words: John Ell­er­ton, in Church Hymns with Tunes, ed­it­ed by Ar­thur S. Sul­li­van (Lon­don: So­cie­ty for Pro­mot­ing Chris­tian Know­ledge, 1874), num­ber 107.

Music: Wi­gan (Gra­ham) Tho­mas Gra­ham, 1874 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
John Ellerton (1826–1893)

Lyrics

Giver of the per­fect gift!
Only hope of hu­man race!
Hear the pray­er our hearts up­lift
Trembling at Thy throne of grace.

Though the ac­cus­ing voice with­in
Speaks of ma­ny a wrong to Thee,
Thou canst cleanse from ev­ery sin,
Thou canst set the cons­cience free.

Who can save us, Lord, but Thou?
Let Thy mer­cy show Thy pow­er;
Lo, we plead Thy pro­mise now,
Now, in this ac­cept­ed hour.

Oh! may these our Lent­en days,
Blest by Thee, with Thee be passed,
That with pur­er, nob­ler praise
We may keep Thy feast at last.

God the ho­ly Tri­n­ity,
Grant the mer­cy we im­plore;
God the One, all praise to Thee
Through the ages ev­er­more!