Scripture Verse

Whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Roman 8:29

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bu­rton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 199.

Music: Con­for­mi­ty in A Com­pil­a­tion of Gen­u­i­ne Church Mu­sic, by Jo­seph Funk (Win­ches­ter, Vir­gin­ia: J. W. Holl­is, 1832) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Funk (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Jesus, my Savior, let me be
More perfectly conformed to Thee;
Implant each grace, each sin dethrone,
And form my temper like Thine own.

My foe, when hungry, let me feed,
Share in his grief, supply his need;
The haughty frown may I not fear,
But with a lowly meekness bear.

Let the envenomed heart and tongue,
The hand outstretched to do me wrong,
Excite no feeling in my breast,
But such as Jesus once expressed.

To others let me always give
What I from others would receive;
Good deeds for evil ones return,
Nor when provoked, with anger burn.

This will proclaim how bright ad fair,
The precepts of the Gospel are!
And God Himself, the God of love,
His own resemblance will approve.