Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

portrait
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

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),

Lyrics

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.