Heavenly Host

Hymn lyrics and Music by William Billings
(1786 edition)

Verse 1

• Methinks I see an Heav’nly host
• Of angels on the wing;
• Methinks I hear their cheerful notes,
• So merrily they sing:
• Let all your fears be banish’d hence,
• Glad tidings I proclaim,
• For there’s a Saviour born today,
• And Jesus is his name.

Verse 2

• Lay down your crooks, and quit your flocks,
• To Bethlehem repair;
• And let your wand’ring steps be squared
• By yonder shining star.
• Seek not in courts or palaces,
• Nor royal curtains draw;
• But search the stable, see your God
• Extended on the straw.

Verse 3

• Then learn from hence, ye rural swains,
• The meekness of your God,
• Who left the boundless realms of joy,
• To ransom you with blood.
• The master of the inn refus’d
• A more commodious place;
• Ungenerous soul of savage mold,
• And destitute of grace.

Verse 4

• Exult ye oxen, low for joy,
• Ye tenants of the stall,
• Pay your obeisance; on your knees
• Unanimously fall.
• The royal guest you entertain
• Is not of common birth,
• But second in the Great I am;
• The God of Heav’n and Earth.

Verse 5

• Then suddenly an Heav’nly host
• Around the shepherds throng,
• Exulting in the threefold God
• And thus address their song:
• To God the Father, Christ the Son,
• And Holy Ghost ador’d;
• The First and Last, the Last and First,
• Eternal praise afford.

I’ve Found a Friend

Hymn lyrics by James G. Small,
Music by George C. Stebbins

Verse 1

• I’ve found a Friend, O such a friend!
• He loved me ere I knew Him;
• He drew me with the cords of love,
• And thus He bound me to Him;
• And round my heart still closely twine
• Those ties which naught can sever,
• For I am His, and He is mine,
• Forever and forever.

Verse 2

• I’ve found a Friend, O such a friend!
• He bled, He died to save me;
• And not alone the gift of life,
• But His own Self He gave me!
• Naught that I have mine own I call,
• I’ll hold it for the Giver,
• My heart, my strength, my life, my all
• Are His, and His forever.

Verse 3

• I’ve found a Friend, O such a friend!
• All pow’r to Him is given,
• To guard me on my onward course,
• And bring me safe to heaven.
• Th’eternal glories gleam afar,
• To nerve my faint endeavor;
• So now to watch, to work, to war,
• And then to rest forever.

Verse 4

• I’ve found a Friend, O such a friend!
• So kind and true and tender,
• So wise a Counselor and Guide,
• So mighty a Defender!
• From Him who loves me now so well
• What pow’r my soul can sever?
• Shall life or death, shall earth or hell?
• No! I am His forever.

My Faith Has Found a Resting Place

Hymn lyrics by Eliza E. Hewitt,
Music by André E. M. Grétry,
Arr. William J. Kirkpatrick

Verse 1

• My faith has found a resting place,
• Not in device or creed;
• I trust the ever living One,
• His wounds for me shall plead.

Chorus

• I need no other argument,
• I need no other plea,
• It is enough that Jesus died,
• And that He died for me.

Verse 2

• Enough for me that Jesus saves,
• This ends my fear and doubt;
• A sinful soul I come to Him,
• He’ll never cast me out.

Chorus

Verse 3

• My heart is leaning on the Word,
• The living Word of God,
• Salvation by my Savior’s Name,
• Salvation through His blood.

Chorus

Verse 4

• My great Physician heals the sick,
• The lost He came to save;
• For me His precious blood He shed,
• For me His life He gave.

Chorus

The Church’s One Foundation

Hymn lyrics by Samuel J. Stone,
Music by Samuel S. Wesley

Verse 1

• The Church’s one foundation
• Is Jesus Christ her Lord,
• She is His new creation
• By water and the Word.
• From heav’n He came and sought her
• To be His holy bride;
• With His own blood He bought her
• And for her life He died.

Verse 2

• She is from every nation,
• Yet one o’er all the earth;
• Her charter of salvation,
• One Lord, one faith, one birth;
• One holy Name she blesses,
• Partakes one holy food,
• And to one hope she presses,
• With every grace endued.

Verse 3

• The Church shall never perish!
• Her dear Lord to defend,
• To guide, sustain, and cherish,
• Is with her to the end:
• Though there be those who hate her,
• And false sons in her pale,
• Against both foe or traitor
• She ever shall prevail.

Verse 4

• Though with a scornful wonder
• Men see her sore oppressed,
• By schisms rent asunder,
• By heresies distressed:
• Yet saints their watch are keeping,
• Their cry goes up, “How long?”
• And soon the night of weeping
• Shall be the morn of song!

Verse 5

• ’Mid toil and tribulation,
• And tumult of her war,
• She waits the consummation
• Of peace forevermore;
• Till, with the vision glorious,
• Her longing eyes are blest,
• And the great Church victorious
• Shall be the Church at rest.

Verse 6

• Yet she on earth hath union
• With God the Three in One,
• And mystic sweet communion
• With those whose rest is won,
• With all her sons and daughters
• Who, by the Master’s hand
• Led through the deathly waters,
• Repose in Eden land.

Verse 7

• O happy ones and holy!
• Lord, give us grace that we
• Like them, the meek and lowly,
• On high may dwell with Thee:
• There, past the border mountains,
• Where in sweet vales the Bride
• With Thee by living fountains
• Forever shall abide!

God Leads Us Along

Hymn lyrics by and music by George A. Young

Verse 1

• In shady, green pastures, so rich and so sweet,
• God leads His dear children along;
• Where the water’s cool flow bathes the weary one’s feet,
• God leads His dear children along.

Chorus

• Some through the waters, some through the flood,
• Some through the fire, but all through the blood;
• Some through great sorrow, but God gives a song,
• In the night season and all the day long.

Verse 2

• Sometimes on the mount where the sun shines so bright,
• God leads His dear children along;
• Sometimes in the valley, in darkest of night,
• God leads His dear children along.

Chorus

Verse 3

• Though sorrows befall us and evils oppose,
• God leads His dear children along;
• Through grace we can conquer, defeat all our foes,
• God leads His dear children along.

Chorus

Verse 4

• Away from the mire, and away from the clay,
• God leads His dear children along;
• Away up in glory, eternity’s day,
• God leads His dear children along.

Chorus

My Hope Is in the Lord

Hymn lyrics and Music by Norman J. Clayton

Verse 1

• My hope is in the Lord
• Who gave Himself for me,
• And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.

Chorus

• For me He died,
• For me He lives,
• And everlasting life and light He freely gives.

Verse 2

• No merit of my own
• His anger to suppress.
• My only hope is found in Jesus’ righteousness.

Chorus

Verse 3

• And now for me He stands
• Before the Father’s throne.
• He shows His wounded hands and names me as His own.

Chorus

Verse 4

• His grace has planned it all,
• ’Tis mine but to believe,
• And recognize His work of love and Christ receive.

Chorus

Revive Us Again

Hymn lyrics by William P. MacKay,
Music by John J. Husband

Verse 1

• We praise Thee, O God!
• For the Son of Thy love,
• For Jesus Who died,
• And is now gone above.

Chorus

• Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
• Hallelujah! Amen.
• Hallelujah! Thine the glory.
• Revive us again.

Verse 2

• We praise Thee, O God!
• For Thy Spirit of light,
• Who hath shown us our Savior,
• And scattered our night.

Chorus

Verse 3

• All glory and praise
• To the Lamb that was slain,
• Who hath borne all our sins,
• And hath cleansed every stain.

Chorus

Verse 4

• All glory and praise
• To the God of all grace,
• Who hast brought us, and sought us,
• And guided our ways.

Chorus

Verse 5

• Revive us again;
• Fill each heart with Thy love;
• May each soul be rekindled
• With fire from above.

Chorus

Christ the Lord is Risen Today

Hymn lyrics by Charles Wesley,
Music: Easter Hymn, composer unknown

Verse 1

• Christ, the Lord, is ris’n today, Alleluia!
• Sons of men and angels say, Alleluia!
• Raise your joys and triumphs high, Alleluia!
• Sing, ye heav’ns, and earth, reply, Alleluia!

Verse 2

• Love’s redeeming work is done, Alleluia!
• Fought the fight, the battle won, Alleluia!
• Lo! the Sun’s eclipse is o’er, Alleluia!
• Lo! He sets in blood no more, Alleluia!

Verse 3

• Vain the stone, the watch, the seal, Alleluia!
• Christ hath burst the gates of hell, Alleluia!
• Death in vain forbids His rise, Alleluia!
• Christ hath opened paradise, Alleluia!

Verse 4

• Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!
• Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
• Once He died our souls to save, Alleluia!
• Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!

Verse 5

• Soar we now where Christ hath led, Alleluia!
• Following our exalted Head, Alleluia!
• Made like Him, like Him we rise, Alleluia!
• Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, Alleluia!

Verse 6

• Hail, the Lord of earth and Heav’n, Alleluia!
• Praise to Thee by both be giv’n, Alleluia!
• Thee we greet triumphant now, Alleluia!
• Hail, the resurrection, thou, Alleluia!

Verse 7

• King of glory, Soul of bliss, Alleluia!
• Everlasting life is this, Alleluia!
• Thee to know, Thy power to prove, Alleluia!
• Thus to sing and thus to love, Alleluia!

Verse 8

• Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
• Unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
• Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
• Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

Verse 9

• But the pains that He endured, Alleluia!
• Our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
• Now above the sky He’s King, Alleluia!
• Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Verse 10

• Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
• Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
• Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
• Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Keep Thou my Way

Hymn lyrics by Fanny Crosby,
Music by Theodore E. Perkins

Verse 1

• Keep Thou my way, O Lord, be Thou ever nigh;
• Strong is Thy mighty arm, weak and frail am I;
• Then, my unchanging Friend, on Thee, my hopes depend,
• Till life’s brief day shall end, be Thou ever nigh.

Verse 2

• Keep Thou my heart, O Lord, ever close to Thee;
• Safe in Thine arms of love, shall my refuge be;
• Then, over a tranquil tide, my bark shall safely glide;
• I shall be satisfied, ever close to Thee.

Verse 3

• Keep Thou my all, O Lord, hide my life in Thine;
• O let Thy sacred light over my pathway shine;
• Kept by Thy tender care, gladly the cross I’ll bear;¹
• Hear Thou and grant my prayer, hide my life in Thine.

¹This line is the famous "Gladly the cross-eyed bear" line.

Grace Greater than Our Sin (Marvelous Grace of our Loving Lord)

Hymn lyrics by Julia H. Johnston,
Music by Daniel B. Towner

Verse 1

• Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
• Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
• Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
• There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Chorus

• Grace, grace, God’s grace,
• Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;
• Grace, grace, God’s grace,
• Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Verse 2

• Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
• Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
• Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
• Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

Chorus

Verse 3

• Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
• What can avail to wash it away?
• Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
• Brighter than snow you may be today.

Chorus

Verse 4

• Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
• Freely bestowed on all who believe!
• You that are longing to see His face,
• Will you this moment His grace receive?

Chorus

Arise, My Soul, Arise

Hymn lyrics by Charles Wesley,
Music by Lewis Edson,
Alternate Tune by Daniel B. Towner (with slightly rearranged words)

Verse 1

• Arise, my soul, arise;
• Shake off thy guilty fears;
• The bleeding sacrifice
• In my behalf appears:
• Before the throne my surety stands,
• Before the throne my surety stands,
• My name is written on His hands.

Verse 2

• He ever lives above,
• For me to intercede;
• His all redeeming love,
• His precious blood, to plead:
• His blood atoned for all our race,
• His blood atoned for all our race,
• And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Verse 3

• Five bleeding wounds He bears;
• Received on Calvary;
• They pour effectual prayers;
• They strongly plead for me:
• “Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
• “Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
• “Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

Verse 4

• The Father hears Him pray,
• His dear anointed One;
• He cannot turn away,
• The presence of His Son;
• His Spirit answers to the blood,
• His Spirit answers to the blood,
• And tells me I am born of God.

Verse 5

• My God is reconciled;
• His pardoning voice I hear;
• He owns me for His child;
• I can no longer fear:
• With confidence I now draw nigh,
• With confidence I now draw nigh,
• And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.

Wounded for Me

Hymn lyrics (verse 1) and Music by William G. Ovens,
Hymn lyrics (verses 2-5) by Gladys W. Roberts

Verse 1

• Wounded for me, wounded for me,
• There on the cross He was wounded for me;
• Gone my transgressions, and now I am free,
• All because Jesus was wounded for me.

Verse 2

• Dying for me, dying for me,
• There on the cross He was dying for me;
• Now in His death my redemption I see,
• All because Jesus was dying for me.

Verse 3

• Risen for me, risen for me,
• Up from the grave He has risen for me;
• Now evermore from death’s sting I am free,
• All because Jesus has risen for me.

Verse 4

• Living for me, living for me,
• Up in the skies He is living for me;
• Daily He’s pleading and praying for me,
• All because Jesus is living for me.

Verse 5

• Coming for me, coming for me,
• One day to earth He is coming for me;
• Then with what joy His dear face I shall see,
• O how I praise Him—He’s coming for me!

Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim it!

Hymn lyrics by Fanny Crosby,
Music by William J. Kirkpatrick

Verse 1

• Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
• Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
• Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
• His child and forever I am.

Chorus

• Redeemed, redeemed,
• Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
• Redeemed, redeemed,
• His child and forever I am.

Verse 2

• Redeemed, and so happy in Jesus,
• No language my rapture can tell;
• I know that the light of His presence
• With me doth continually dwell.

Chorus

Verse 3

• I think of my blessed Redeemer,
• I think of Him all the day long:
• I sing, for I cannot be silent;
• His love is the theme of my song.

Chorus

Verse 4¹

• I know there’s a crown that is waiting,
• In yonder bright mansion for me,
• And soon, with the spirits made perfect,
• At home with the Lord I shall be.

Chorus

Verse 5²

• I know I shall see in His beauty
• The King in whose law I delight,
• Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
• And giveth me songs in the night.

Chorus
¹Apparently the original verse. See note for verse 5 below.
²Appears in later hymnals; of uncertain origin, maybe added by an editor.

Just as I Am

Hymn lyrics by Charlotte Elliot,
Music by William B. Bradbury

Verse 1

• Just as I am, without one plea,
• But that Thy blood was shed for me,
• And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
• O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Verse 2

• Just as I am, and waiting not
• To rid my soul of one dark blot,
• To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
• O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Verse 3

• Just as I am, though tossed about
• With many a conflict, many a doubt,
• Fightings and fears within, without,
• O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Verse 4

• Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
• Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
• Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
• O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Verse 5

• Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
• Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
• Because Thy promise I believe,
• O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Verse 6

• Just as I am, Thy love unknown
• Hath broken every barrier down;
• Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
• O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Verse 7

• Just as I am, of that free love
• The breadth, length, depth, and height to prove,
• Here for a season, then above,
• O Lamb of God, I come, I come!