Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope.
Zechariah 9:12
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns and Sacred Poems 1749.
Music: Diademata George J. Elvey, in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1868 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Prisoners of hope, arise,
And see your Lord appear;
Lo! on the wings of love He flies,
And brings redemption near!
Redemption in His blood
He calls you to receive:
Come unto Me, the pardoning God.
He cries,
Believe,believe!
The reconciling word,
We thankfully embrace;
Rejoice in our redeeming Lord,
A blood besprinkled race:
We yield to be set free,
Thy counsel we approve;
Salvation, praise, ascribe to Thee,
And glory in Thy love.
Jesus, to Thee we look,
Till saved from sin’s remains;
Reject the inbred tyrant’s yoke,
And cast away his chains:
Our nature shall no more
O’er us dominion have;
By faith we apprehend the power
Which shall forever save.
In sure and steadfast hope
To be redeemed below,
On to the holy mountain’s top
We all exulting go:
We shall the prize receive,
We shall be all renewed,
Regain Thine image here, and live
The sinless life of God.