Extol the Son of God

The Son of God! the Lord of Life!
How wondrous are His ways!
Oh for a harp of thousand strings,
To sound abroad His praise!

How passing strange, to leave the seat
Of heaven's eternal throne,
And hosts of glittering seraphim,
For guilty man alone!

And did He bow His sacred head,
And die a death of shame?
Let men and angels magnify
And bless His holy name!

Oh let us live in peace and love,
And cast away our pride,
And crucify our sins afresh,
As He was crucified!

He rose again; then let us rise
From sin, and Christ adore,
And dwell in peace with all mankind,
And tempt the Lord no more:

The Son of God! the Lord of Life!
How wondrous are His ways!
Oh for a harp of thousand strings,
To sound abroad His praise!

George Mogridge, 1851

All Due to Grace

This hymn has helped focus my heart on resting in grace alone--that I contributed nothing to my salvation--that it was the work of God alone who rescued me from my sin.

All that I was, my sin, my guilt,
My death, was all mine own;
All that I am, I owe to Thee,
My gracious God, alone.

The evil of my former state
Was mine, and only mine;
The good in which I now rejoice
Is Thine, and only Thine.

The darkness of my former state,
The bondage--all was mine;
The light of life in which I walk,
The liberty--is Thine.

Thy grace that made me feel my sin
It taught me to believe;
Then, in believing, peace I found,
And now I live, I live.

All that I am, e'en here on earth,
All that I hope to be,
When Jesus comes and glory dawns,
I owe it, Lord, to Thee

Horatius Bonar, 1856

The Perfections as a Whole

How shall I praise th' eternal God,
That infinite Unknown?
Who can ascend His high abode,
Or venture near His throne?

The great Invisible! He dwells
Conceal'd in dazzling light;
But His all-searching eye reveals
The secrets of the night.

Those watchful eyes, that never sleep,
Survey the world around;
His wisdom is a boundless deep,
Where all our thoughts are drown'd.

He knows no shadow of a change,
Nor alters His decrees;
Firm as a rock His truth remains,
To guard His promises.

Justice upon a dreadful throne
Maintains the rights of God;
While mercy sends her pardons down,
Bought with a Saviour's blood.

Now to my soul, immortal King!
Speak some forgiving word;
Then 'twill by double joy to sing
The glories of my Lord.

Isaac Watts, 1709

"God Be Merciful Unto Us"

Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us
O'er the world's tempestuous sea;
Guard us, guide us, keep us, feed us,
For we have no help but thee;
Yet possessing every blessing,
If our God our Father be.

Saviour, breathe forgiveness o'er us,
All our weakness Thou dost know,
Thou didst tread this earth before us
Thou didst feel its keenest woe;
Lone and dreary, faint and weary,
Through the desert Thou didst go.

Spirit of our God, descending,
Fill our hearts with heavenly joy,
Love with every passion blending,
Pleasure that can never cloy:
Thus provided, pardon'd, guided,
Nothing can our peace destroy.

James Edmeston, 1820