Scripture Verse

I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing…the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto His heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 18

Introduction

portrait
Austin C. Lovelace (1919–2010)

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Spir­it­ual Songs 1707–09, Book 1, num­ber 27. As­sur­ance of hea­ven.

Music: Pis­gah Scot­tish tune, ar­ranged by Jo­seph C. Low­ry in The Ken­tuc­ky Har­mo­ny, by Ana­ni­as Da­vis­son, se­cond edi­tion, 1817. Har­mo­ny by Aus­tin C. Love­lace in The Book of Hymns (Nash­ville, Ten­nes­see: Unit­ed Me­tho­dist Pub­lish­ing House, 1966), num­ber 302 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pic­ture of Love­lace,

portrait
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Lyrics

Death may dis­solve my bo­dy now,
And bear my spir­it home;
Why do my min­utes move so slow,
Nor my sal­va­tion come?

With heav’n­ly wea­pons I have fought
The bat­tles of the Lord;
Finished my course, and kept the faith,
And wait the sure re­ward.

God has laid up in Heav’n for me
A crown which can­not fade;
The right­eous Judge at that great day
Shall place it on my head.

Nor hath the King of grace de­creed
This prize for me alone;
But all that love and long to see
Th’ap­pear­ance of His Son.

Jesus the Lord shall guard me safe
From ev­ery ill de­sign;
And to His heav’n­ly king­dom keep
This fee­ble soul of mine.

God is my ev­er­last­ing aid,
And hell shall rage in vain;
To Him be high­est glo­ry paid.
And end­less praise—Amen.