The four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.
Revelation 5:8
Words: Arthur T. Pierson, 1874. When Daniel Whittle and Philip Bliss conducted a six-week campaign in Detroit, Michigan, they stayed in Pierson’s home. Pierson gave Bliss these words and was impressed that Bliss withdrew for a season of prayer before composing the music.
Music: Chattanooga Philip P. Bliss (🔊 pdf nwc).
With harps and with viols,
There stand a great throng
In the presence of Jesus,
And sing this new song:
Refrain
Unto Him who hath loved us
And washed us from sin,
Unto Him be the glory forever, Amen.
All these once were sinners,
Defiled in His sight,
Now arrayed in pure garments
In praise they unite:
Refrain
He maketh the rebel
A priest and a king,
He hath bought us and taught us
This new song to sing:
Refrain
How helpless and hopeless
We sinners had been,
If He never had loved us
Till cleansed from our sin:
Refrain
Aloud in His praises
Our voices shall ring,
So that others believing,
This new song shall sing:
Refrain