Scripture Verse

We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. Acts 4:20

Introduction

portrait
Thomas Kelly (1769–1855)

Words: Tho­mas Kel­ly, Hymns Not Be­fore Pub­lished (Dub­lin: Tho­mas John­ston, 1815), num­ber 40.

Music: St. Ke­vin Ar­thur S. Sul­li­van, 1872 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Arthur S. Sullivan (1842–1900)

Lyrics

We have heard the joy­ful news,
Now let oth­ers hear it;
Bear the tid­ings to the Jews,
To the na­tions bear it.
They who know the joy­ful sound,
Never should con­ceal it;
But to all the world around,
Far and wide re­veal it.

Joyful news the Gos­pel is,
And to thought con­found­ing;
Wonder, O ye heav’ns, at this:
Sing of grace abound­ing;
Grace like this was ne­ver known,
God our na­ture wear­ing;
Making hu­man guilt His own,
And our sor­rows bear­ing.

Spread abroad the joy­ful sound,
Fly in all di­rect­ions;
Speak to men the world around,
Men of all com­plex­ions;
All are sin­ners, need­ing grace,
God’s own Word has said it;
Go with speed to ev­ery place,
And un­wear­ied spread it.

And may He whose grace it is,
Give the Word a bless­ing;
Make the con­quered na­tions His,
Every ill re­dress­ing.
May He take the veil away,
All the earth o’er­spread­ing;
And His migh­ty pow­er dis­play,
All our hopes ex­ceed­ing.