Scripture Verse

Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 2 John 3

Introduction

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Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Spi­ri­tu­al Songs 1707–09, Book 2, num­ber 138. The pow­er of the Gos­pel.

Music: Bur­ton Is­aac B. Wood­bu­ry (1819–1858) (🔊 pdf nwc).

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Isaac B. Woodbury (1819–1858)

Lyrics

This is the word of truth and love,
Sent to the na­tions from above;
Jehovah here re­solves to show
What His al­migh­ty grace can do.

This re­me­dy did wis­dom find
To heal dis­eas­es of the mind;
This so­ve­reign balm, whose vir­tues can
Restore the rui­ned crea­ture, man.

The Gos­pel bids the dead re­vive,
Sinners ob­ey the voice, and live:
Dry bones are raised and clothed afresh,
And hearts of stone are turned to flesh.

Where Sa­tan reigned in shades of night
The Gos­pel strikes a heav’n­ly light;
Our lusts its won­drous pow­er con­trols,
And calms the rage of an­gry souls.

Lions and beasts of sav­age name
Put on the na­ture of the lamb,
While the wild world es­teem it strange,
Gaze, and ad­mire, and hate the change.

May but this grace my soul re­new,
Let sin­ners gaze and hate me too;
The Word that saves me does en­gage
A sure de­fense from all their rage.