To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
John 1:13
Words: Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Book 1, 1707, number 95. Justification by faith, not by works; or, the law condemns, grace justifies.
Music: Holy Cross James C. Wade, 1865 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Wade (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Not all the outward forms on earth,
Nor rites that God has giv’n,
Nor will of man, nor blood, nor birth,
Can raise a soul to Heav’n.
The sovereign will of God alone
Creates us heirs of grace;
Born in the image of His Son,
A new, peculiar race.
The Spirit, like some heav’nly wind,
Blows on the sons of flesh,
New-models all the carnal mind,
And forms the man afresh.
Our quickened souls awake and rise
From the long sleep of death;
On heav’nly things we fix our eyes,
And praise employs our breath.