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: George P. Keeling, in Songs of the Evening Light, edited by Barney Warren & Andrew L. Byers (Anderson, Indiana: Gospel Trumpet Company, 1897), number 19.
Music: Barney E. Warren, 1897 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Keeling (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
The love of God flows deep and wide
Thro’ Christ who bled for us and died;
Its widening stretch we cannot see,
It reaches far beyond the sea.
Refrain
Oh love, oh, love, oh, love of God so free;
He proved His love for you and me
Upon dark Calvary.
Tho’ men have gone in sin so deep
That hell would blush and angels weep,
Yet, God so loved each guilty one
He gave for them His only Son.
Refrain
The heart that is so hard in sin
That this great love can never win,
Is truly fit for nothing less
Than endless hell and wretchedness.
Refrain
But tho’ your sins be black and deep,
And awful darkness ’round you creep,
Yet, God so loves your guilty soul,
He’ll save you from all hell’s control.
Refrain