Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

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John Wesley (1703–1791)

Words: Jo­hann A. Rothe, in Christ-Ca­tho­lisch­es Singe- und Bet-Büch­lein, by Ni­ko­laus L. von Zin­zen­dorf, 1727 (Ich ha­be nun den Grund ge­fund­en). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by John Wes­ley, Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems, 1740.

Music: Old 23rd Di­vine Mu­sic­al Mis­cel­la­ny, 1754. Ar­ranged by John F. Bridge (1844–1924) (🔊 pdf nwc).

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John F. Bridge (1844–1924)

Lyrics

Now I have found the ground, where­in
Sure my soul’s an­chor may re­main,
The wounds of Je­sus, for my sin
Before the world’s foun­da­tion slain:
Whose mer­cy shall un­shak­en stay,
When Heav’n and earth are fled away.

Father, Thine ev­er­last­ing grace
Our scan­ty thought sur­pass­es far:
Thy heart still melts with ten­der­ness,
Thy arms of love still op­en are,
Returning sin­ners to re­ceive,
That mer­cy they may taste and live.

O Love, Thou bot­tom­less abyss!
My sins are swal­lowed up in Thee!
Covered is my un­right­eous­ness,
Nor spot of guilt re­mains on me,
While Je­sus’ blood, through earth and skies,
Mercy, free, bound­less mer­cy, cries.

With faith I plunge me in this sea;
Here is my hope, my joy, my rest!
Hither, when hell as­sails, I flee,
I look in­to my Sav­ior’s breast;
Away, sad doubt, and anx­ious fear!
Mercy is all that’s writ­ten there.

Though waves and storms go o’er my head,
Though strength, and health, and friends be gone,
Though joys be wi­thered all, and dead,
Though ev­ery com­fort be with­drawn,
On this my stead­fast soul re­lies,
Father, Thy mer­cy ne­ver dies.

Fixed on this ground will I re­main,
Though my heart fail, and flesh de­cay;
This an­chor shall my soul sus­tain,
When earth’s foun­da­tions melt away;
Mercy’s full pow­er I then shall prove,
Loved with an ev­er­last­ing love.