Scripture Verse

Repent ye: for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Matthew 3:2

Introduction

Words & Mu­sic: James Mc­Gra­na­han, Gos­pel Hymns No. 5 (New York; Cincinnati, Ohio & Chicago, Illinois: John Church and Biglow & Main, 1887), num­ber 126 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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James McGranahan (1840–1907)
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Lyrics

Have our hearts grown cold since the days of old?
Have we left our souls’ first love?
Neither cold nor hot, God com­mends us not,
Nor our luke­warm ways ap­prove.

Refrain

Repent ye, re­pent ye, re­pent ye!
’Tis the call of God to ev­ery land!
Repent ye, re­pent ye, re­pent ye!
For the king­dom of Hea­ven is at hand.

Has the God above our su­preme true love?
Have we bowed to Him alway?
Do we own His claim and re­vere His name,
And ob­serve His ho­ly day?

Refrain

Do we hon­or those who have soothed our woes?
Have we ren­dered good for ill?
Are we pure in heart, do­ing all our part
To ful­fill the Sav­ior’s will?

Refrain

Are we al­ways true in the thing we do,
In our words, our works, our ways?
Are we quite con­tent with the bless­ings sent,
Giving God alone the praise?

Refrain

Dare a mor­tal say—for a sin­gle day—
I have kept Thy law, O God!
Undefiled by sin, I am pure with­in,
And I need no cleans­ing blood
?

Refrain