Scripture Verse

I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bu­rton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 401. Fi­nal Ex­clu­sion of Un­be­liev­ers.

Music: St. Cris­pin George J. El­vey, 1862 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Bed­dome (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
George Elvey (1816–1893)
National Portrait Gallery

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Lyrics

Can thought­less sin­ners hope for Heav’n,
Can un­be­liev­ers dwell at ease?
No real ground of hope is giv’n,
No pro­mise made to such as these.

Would they the gate ce­les­ti­al force?
A flam­ing sword shall guard the way;
Satan shall stop them in their course,
And ea­ger seize his cap­tive prey.

Heav’n from their vain at­tacks se­cure,
Shall still en­joy a set­tled peace;
Nor will a right­eous God en­dure
Such dar­ing re­bels near His face.

Shut out from bliss, and bound in chains
Of hea­vy guilt, the trai­tors lie;
Deluged in wrath, en­closed in flames,
Dying they live, and liv­ing die.

Jesus, who art the Lord of all,
Oh let me Thy sal­va­tion see:
And when this earth­ly build­ing fall,
Take my de­part­ing soul to Thee.