Scripture Verse

By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8–9

Introduction

portrait
Edgar P. Stites (1836–1921)

Words: Ed­gar P. Stites, in The Wells of Sal­va­tion, ed­it­ed by John R. Swe­ney & Will­iam J. Kirk­pat­rick (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: John J. Hood, 1881), page 42. Some hym­nals show the ly­ri­cist as Ed­gar Page, Stites’ pseu­do­nym.

Music: Tho­mas H. Er­vin (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Er­vin’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

’Tis sim­ple faith that breaks the pow­er
And sets us free from sin,
’Tis sim­ple faith un­locks the gate
Of Heav’n and lets us in.

Refrain

Fully be­liev­ing, al­ways re­ceiv­ing,
Blessing we ask of the Lord;
Gifts with­out mea­sure,
Poured from His trea­sure—
Answers to faith in His word.

Just sim­ple faith in Christ will save
The hum­blest trem­bling soul;
There’s none so poor, and none so sick,
But He will make them whole.

Refrain

By sim­ple faith we bring to Him,
Not won­drous words of pray­er,
But hum­bly bring a con­trite heart,
And trust, and leave it there.

Refrain

Thus sim­ple faith and per­fect love
Shall lift my soul so high,
’Twill give a crown the stars ab­ove,
A home be­yond the sky.

Refrain