Scripture Verse

The Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

Introduction

portrait
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems 1749.

Music: Ge­rar Lo­well Ma­son, 1839 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Inverness Lo­well Ma­son, The Sac­red Harp or Ec­lec­tic Har­mo­ny (Cin­cin­na­ti Ohio: Tru­man & Smith, 1835), page 95 (🔊 pdf nwc)
portrait
Lowell Mason (1792–1872)

Lyrics

O that I could repent!
O that I could be­lieve!
Thou by Thy voice the marble rent,
The rock in sunder cleave!

Thou, by Thy two-edged sword,
My soul and spirit part,
Strike with the hammer of Thy Word,
And break my stubborn heart!

Savior, and Prince of Peace,
The double grace bestow;
Unloose the bands of wickedness,
And let the captive go:

Grant me my sins to feel,
And then the load remove:
Wound, and pour in, my wounds to heal,
The balm of pardoning love.

For Thy own mercy’s sake
The cursèd thing remove;
And into Thy protection take
The prisoner of Thy love:

In every trying hour
Stand by my feeble soul;
And screen me from my nature’s power,
Till Thou hast made me whole.

This is Thy will, I know,
That I should holy be,
Should let my sin this moment go,
This moment turn to Thee:

O might I now embrace
Thy all-sufficient power;
And ne­ver more to sin give place,
And ne­ver grieve Thee more!