Scripture Verse

Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him: And lo a voice from Heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Matthew 3:16–17

Introduction

Words: James Cox, in the Exe­ter Col­lect­ion, 1812.

Music: In­vi­ta­tion (Hast­ings) Tho­mas Hast­ings, 1831 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Thomas Hastings (1784–1872)

Lyrics

See, from on high, a light di­vine
On Je­sus’ head des­cend;
And hear the sac­red voice from Heav’n,
That bids us all at­tend:

This is My well be­lov­èd Son,
Proclaimed the voice di­vine:
Hear Him, His hea­ven­ly Fa­ther said,
For all His words are Mine.

His mis­sion thus con­firmed from Hea­ven,
The great Mes­si­ah came,
And heav’nly wis­dom taught to man,
In God the Fa­ther’s name.

The path of heav’n­ly peace He showed,
That leads to bliss on high,
Where all His faith­ful fol­low­ers here
Shall live, no more to die.

O may we then, who own Him Lord,
And His loved name pro­fess,
By all our words and act­ions prove
That we His mind pos­sess.