Scripture Verse

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. 1 John 3:1

Introduction

portrait
William H. Havergal
1793–1870

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Spir­it­u­al Songs, Book 1, 1707, num­ber 64. Adop­tion.

Music: Swa­bia Jo­hann M. Spiess, in Da­vids Harpf­en-Spiel (Hei­del­berg, Ger­ma­ny: 1745). Ar­ranged by Will­iam H. Ha­ver­gal, 1847 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Isaac Watts
1674–1748

Lyrics

Behold what wondrous grace
The Father has bestowed
On sinners of a mortal race,
To call them sons of God!

’Tis no surprising thing
That we should be unknown;
The Jewish world knew not their king,
God’s everlasting Son.

Nor doth it yet appear
How great we must be made;
But when we see our Savior here,
We shall be like our head.

A hope so much divine
May trials well endure;
May purge our souls from sense and sin,
As Christ the Lord is pure.

If in my Father’s love
I share a filial part,
Send down Thy Spirit like a dove,
To rest upon my heart.

We would no longer lie
Like slaves beneath the throne;
My faith shall Abba, Father, cry,
And thou the kindred own.