Scripture Verse

Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? Isaiah 53:1

Introduction

portrait
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems 1749, num­ber 169.

Music: Ke­no­sis Phi­lip P. Bliss, Sun­shine for Sun­day Schools (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio & Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois: John Church, George F. Root & Sons, 1873), num­ber 56 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Philip P. Bliss (1838–1876)

Lyrics

Who of the great, or wise,
Hath our report believed!
Alas! they close their eyes,
Nor will be undeceived:
The world cry out, in needless fright,
Your rash attempt forbear
To lift us to presumption’s height,
Or plunge us in despair.

Whoever seek to know
Their sins on earth forgiven,
Or sink in hopeless woe,
Or rise to madness driven.

They safely choose the middle way,
Aware of each extreme,
The only prudent men are they,
And wisdom dies with them.

The sayings of our Lord
Their folly dares despise,
Above the written Word,
To their own ruin, wise;
The written Word, by which we steer
From all mistake secure,
It bids us make our calling here
And our election sure.

It bids the weary come,
And find in Christ their rest,
Invites the wanderer home
To his Re­deem­er’s breast;
It stirs us up to knock, and pray,
And seek the pardoning God,
Till Je­sus take our sins away,
And wash us in His blood.

It proffers happiness
To all who dare be­lieve,
And promises a peace,
Which man can ne­ver give;
With full assurance of belief
Commands us to draw near,
And taste the joy that casts out grief,
The love that casts out fear.

Water of life divine,
It bids us freely take,
And mystic milk and wine
For Je­sus’ only sake:
The Holy Ghost, the Com­fort­er
To all who ask is given,
That seal of our sal­va­tion here,
That antepast of Hea­ven.

But still the world refuse
A Hea­ven begun below,
And vainly fear to’ abuse
The grace they ne­ver know:
The grace their pride will not receive
They impiously deny,
And in their sins securely live,
And desperately die.