God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
Words: Martha M. Stockton, circa 1871. Published in the Voice of Praise, edited by Ebenezer T. Baird and Charles C. Converse (shown by his pseudonym, Karl Redan), 1872. The words were reportedly inspired by an American Indian woman’s story of a Canadian missionary bringing the Gospel to her village.
Music: God Loved the World William G. Fischer (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Stockton (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
God loved the world of sinners lost,
And ruined by the fall;
Salvation full, at highest cost,
He offers free to all.
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O ’twas love, ’twas wondrous love,
The love of God to me;
It brought my Savior from above,
To die on Calvary!
E’en now by faith I claim Him mine,
The risen Son of God;
Redemption by His death I find,
And cleansing through the blood.
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Love brings the glorious fullness in,
And to His saints makes known
The blessèd rest from inbred sin,
Through faith in Christ alone.
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Believing souls, rejoicing go;
There shall to you be giv’n
A glorious foretaste, here below,
Of endless life in Heav’n.
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Of victory now o’er Satan’s power
Let all the ransomed sing,
And triumph in the dying hour
Through Christ, the Lord, our king.
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