God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Words: Ann T. Gilbert (1782–1866).
Music: Darwall’s 148th John Darwall, in The New Universal Psalmodist, by Aaron Williams, 1770 (🔊 pdf nwc).
What was it, blessèd God,
Led Thee to give Thy Son,
To yield Thy well-beloved
For us by sin undone?
’Twas love unbounded led Thee thus
To give Thy well-beloved for us.
What led Thy Son, O God,
To leave Thy throne on high,
To shed His precious blood,
To suffer and to die?
’Twas love, unbounded love to us,
Led Him to die and suffer thus.
What moved Thee to impart
Thy Spirit from above,
Therewith to fill our heart
With heavenly peace and love?
’Twas love, unbounded love to us,
Moved Thee to give Thy Spirit thus.
What love to Thee we owe,
Our God, for all Thy grace!
Our hearts may well o’erflow
In everlasting praise:
Make us, O God, to praise Thee thus
For all Thy boundless love to us.