Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Revelation 1:5–6
Words: Charles Wesley, Short Hymns (Bristol, England: E. Farley, 1762), Volume 2, number 824.
Music: Ormesby George Merritt, in The Primitive Methodist Hymnal, edited by George Booth (London: Primitive Methodist Publishing House, 1889), number 46 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tune:
If you know where to get a good picture of Merritt (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Who can worthily commend
Thy love unsearchable?
Love which made Thee condescend
Our curse and death to feel!
Thou, the one eternal God,
Who didst Thyself our ransom pay,
Hast with Thy own precious blood,
Washed all our sins away.
By the Spirit of our Head
Anointed priests and kings,
Conquerors of the world we tread
On all terrestrial things,
Sit in heavenly places down,
While yet we in the flesh remain,
Now, partakers of Thy throne,
Before Thy Father reign.
In Thy members here beneath
The Intercessor prays;
Here we in Thy Spirit breathe
The quintessence of praise;
Offer up our all to God,
And God beholds, with gracious eyes,
First the purchase of Thy blood,
And then our sacrifice.
Jesus, let Thy kingdom come,
Inspired by Thee, we pray;
Previous to the general doom,
The everlasting day!
Take possession of Thine own;
And let us then our Savior see
Glorious on Thy heav’nly throne,
Thro’ all eternity.