Scripture Verse

Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Hebrews 12:2

Introduction

portrait
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems 1740.

Music: Mainz­er Jo­seph Mainz­er, 1841 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Joseph Mainzer (1801–1851)

Lyrics

Author of faith, eter­nal Word,
Whose Spir­it breathes the ac­tive flame;
Faith like its fin­ish­er and Lord,
Today as yes­ter­day the same.

To Thee our hum­ble hearts as­pire,
And ask the gift un­speak­able;
Increase in us the kin­dled fire,
In us the work of faith ful­fill.

By faith we know Thee strong to save;
Save us, a pre­sent Sav­ior Thou!
Whate’er we hope, by faith we have
Future and past sub­sist­ing now.

To him that in Thy name be­lieves
Eternal life with Thee is giv­en;
Into Him­self He all re­ceives,
Pardon and ho­li­ness, and Hea­ven.

The things un­known to fee­ble sense,
Unseen by rea­son’s glim­mer­ing ray,
With strong com­mand­ing evi­dence
Their hea­ven­ly ori­gin dis­play.

Faith lends its real­iz­ing light,
The clouds dis­perse, the sha­dows fly;
Th’in­vi­si­ble ap­pears in sight,
And God is seen by mor­tal eye.