Scripture Verse

While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Introduction

Words: Sam­uel Al­man, in The Ca­na­di­an Hym­nal (To­ron­to, Ca­na­da: Will­iam Briggs, 1895), num­ber 17.

Music: Ev­an Will­iam H. Ha­ver­gal, 1847. Ar­ranged by Lo­well Ma­son in New Car­mi­na Sac­ra (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: 1850) (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
Lowell Mason (1792–1872)

Lyrics

I love to sing of that great Power
That made the earth and sea;
But better still, I love the song
Of Je­sus died for me.

I love to sing of shrub and flower,
Of field and plant and tree;
But sweeter note for ever is,
That Je­sus died for me.

I love to think of angels’ songs,
From sin and sorrow free;
But angels cannot strike their notes
To Je­sus died for me.

I love to speak of God, of Hea­ven,
And all its purity;
God is my Fa­ther, Hea­ven my home,
For Je­sus died for me.

And when I reach that happy place,
From all temptation free,
I’ll tune my ever rapturous notes
With Je­sus died for me.