Scripture Verse

The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

Introduction

Words: Ap­peared in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship, Col­lect­ed from Va­ri­ous Au­thors, by S. Wool­mer (Exe­ter, Eng­land: 1801). In Da­ni­el Sedg­wick’s marked co­py of John Do­bell’s New Se­lect­ion, 1806, the au­thor is given as Jo­na­than All­en. It is not known what au­tho­ri­ty Sedg­wick used to at­trib­ute the lyr­ics to Al­len. Duf­field, page 170, cre­dits the hymn to John Al­len.

In lat­er hym­nals, the first and se­cond verse are some­times trans­posed.

Music: Un­ser Herr­scher Jo­ach­im Ne­an­der, 1680 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

portrait
Joachim Neander (1650–1680)

Lyrics

Sinners, will you scorn the mes­sage
Sent in mer­cy from above?
Every sen­tence, O how ten­der!
Every line is full of love:
Listen to it, list­en to it,
Every line is full of love.

Hear the her­alds of the Gos­pel
News from Zi­on’s king pro­claim:
Pardon to each re­bel sin­ner,
Free for­giv­eness in His name:
How im­port­ant, how im­port­ant,
Free for­giv­eness in His name.

Tempted souls, they bring you suc­cor;
Fearful hearts, they quell your fears,
And, with news of con­so­la­tion,
Chase away the fall­ing tears:
Tender her­alds, ten­der her­alds,
Chase away the fall­ing tears.

False pro­fes­sors, gro­vel­ing word­lings,
Callous hear­ers of the Word,
While the mes­sen­gers ad­dress you,
Take the warn­ings they af­ford;
We en­treat you, we en­treat you,
Take the warn­ings they af­ford.

O ye an­gels, ho­ver­ing round us,
Waiting spi­rits, speed your way;
Haste ye to the court of Hea­ven,
Tidings bear with­out de­lay,
Rebel sin­ners, re­bel sin­ners,
Glad the mes­sage will obey.