Scripture Verse

An anchor for the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19

Introduction

portrait
Henry B. Mills (1786–1867)

Words: Jo­hann A. Rothe, in Christ-Ka­thol­isch­es Singe- und Bet-Büch­lein, by Nik­o­laus L. von Zin­zen­dorf, 1727 (Ich ha­be nun den Grund ge­fun­den). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Hen­ry B. Mills, 1850.

Music: Mir ist Er­bar­mung wi­der­fahr­en Jo­hann L. F. Hain­lin, cir­ca 1790 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

I now have found for hope of Hea­ven,
An anchor-ground that firm will hold;
’Twas through the cross of Je­sus given,
By God appointed from of old;
A ground that shall enduring stay,
When earth and skies have passed away,
When earth and skies have passed away.

’Tis God’s own mercy ne­ver ending;
Its measure all our thoughts exceeds;
While Je­sus, too, His arms extending,
Whose heart for guilty sinners bleeds,
Now with compassion calls His foes
To flee from sin and endless woes,
To flee from sin and endless woes.

This love’s a deep, our follies hiding;
The death of Christ, a matchless grace,
To life and peace our spirits guiding,
Where wrath no more shall find a place;
His blood for us is pleading still,
Let mercy all its work fulfill,
Let mercy all its work fulfill!

Upon this ground I rest most firmly,
Long as the earth my dwelling prove;
And wish to serve my God and Sav­ior,
Till, dying, I shall rise above,
And there, rejoicing, shall adore
Unbounded mercy ev­er­more,
Unbounded mercy ev­er­more.