Scripture Verse

Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. John 8:32

Introduction

portrait
William Gardiner (1770–1853)
British Museum
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Words: Will­iam Cow­per, Ol­ney Hymns (Lon­don: W. Ol­iv­er, 1779), num­ber 64.

Music: Ger­ma­ny Sac­red Me­lo­dies, by Will­iam Gar­di­ner, 1815 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
William Cowper (1731–1800)

Lyrics

Holy Lord God! I love Thy truth,
Nor dare Thy least com­mand­ment slight;
Yet pierced by sin, the ser­pent’s tooth,
I mourn the ang­uish of the bite.

But though the poi­son lurks with­in,
Hope bids me still with pa­tience wait;
Till death shall set me free from sin,
Free from the on­ly thing I hate.

Had I a throne above the rest,
Where an­gels and arch­an­gels dwell;
One sin, un­slain, with­in my breast,
Would make that Heav’n as dark as hell.

The pri­son­er, sent to breathe fresh air,
And blessed with li­ber­ty again,
Would mourn, were he con­demned to wear
One link of all his for­mer chain.

But O! no foe in­vades the bliss,
When glo­ry crowns the Chris­tian’s head;
One view of Je­sus as He is,
Will strike all sin for­ev­er dead.