Scripture Verse

He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

Introduction

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Augustus M. Toplady (1740–1778)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: Au­gus­tus M. Top­la­dy, in the Gos­pel Ma­ga­zine, 1771.

Music: Llan­gris­tio­lus Jo­seph Par­ry, in Llyfr To­nau Cynulleidfaol, ed­it­ed by John Ro­berts, 1870 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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Joseph Parry (1841–1903)

Lyrics

A debt­or to mer­cy alone,
Of co­ve­nant mer­cy I sing;
Nor fear, with Thy right­eous­ness on,
My per­son and of­fer­ing to bring.
The ter­rors of law and of God
With me can have no­thing to do;
My Sav­ior’s obe­di­ence and blood
Hide all my trans­gress­ions from view.

The work which His good­ness be­gan,
The arm of His strength will com­plete;
His pro­mise is Yea and Amen,
And ne­ver was for­feit­ed yet.
Things fu­ture, nor things that are now,
Nor all things be­low or above,
Can make Him His pur­pose forgo,
Or se­ver my soul from His love.

My name from the palms of His hands
Eternity will not erase;
Impressed on His heart it re­mains,
In marks of in­de­li­ble grace.
Yes, I to the end shall en­dure,
As sure as the ear­nest is giv’n;
More hap­py, but not more se­cure,
The glo­ri­fied spi­rits in Heav’n.