God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8
Words: E. W. Oakes, 1886.
Music: Heathrow Peter P. Bilhorn (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know Oakes’ full name, or where to get a good photo of him (head-and-shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
We’ll sing the wondrous story,
’Tis ever sweet and true;
Of Jesus’ love so precious,
Now freely offered you;
He left the joys of Heaven,
His Father’s home on high,
For lost and ruined sinners,
To suffer and to die.
The cruel world, they took Him,
With thorns they crowned His head;
And then to Calvary’s mountain
The precious Lamb was led;
The nails of shame were driven,
The blood flowed from His side;
He cried, O God, forgive them,
And bowed His head and died.
His friends whom He loved dearly,
And whom He died to save,
They begged His precious body,
And laid it in the grave;
But God His Father raised Him,
Triumphant, from the dead,
Oh! glory hallelujah,
Now death is captive lead.
My Lord now reigns in glory,
He’s coming soon for me;
And then with all the ransomed,
His glorious face I’ll see;
And shout, Behold the Bridegroom
Put on your garments fair.
And go ye out to meet Him,
With rapture in the air.