Metrical Hymn Texts by David B. McGrew

                         Free for use courtesy of THE QUIET REFORMATION.

Understanding the use of Metrical Texts
Berean Baptist Fellowship Call to Public Worship Texts—(10.10.10.10)
Berean Baptist Fellowship Call to Private Worship Texts—L.M. (8.8.8.8)

Meditations on Scripture in various Meters

Understanding the use of Metrical Texts

Did you know that you can sing the text for "Amazing Grace" to the melodies from "Joy to the World," "O God Our Help in Ages Past," "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing," "I Sing the Mighty Power of God," and even the theme song from Gilligan's Island? Go ahead--try it. You can also sing any of the texts associated with these tune names to any of the other melodies. They are completely transferable. Don't worry, this is not some great conspiracy. It is in fact one of the oldest aspects of Christian Hymnody. What these texts have in common is this: they all are written in the same METER.

Meter is the particular arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables used to organize the lines of poetry in a stanza of text. "Amazing Grace" is a text written in what is called common meter--abbreviated C.M. Common meter organizes four lines of text like this: FIRST LINE: 8 syllables = ⁽¹⁾weak / ⁽²⁾STRONG / ⁽³⁾weak / ⁽⁴⁾STRONG / ⁽⁵⁾weak / ⁽⁶⁾STRONG / ⁽⁷⁾weak / ⁽⁸⁾STRONG [a-MAZ-ing GRACE how SWEET the SOUND] SECOND LINE: 6 syllables = ⁽¹⁾weak / ⁽²⁾STRONG / ⁽³⁾weak / ⁽⁴⁾STRONG / ⁽⁵⁾weak / ⁽⁶⁾STRONG *breathe* [that SAVED a WRETCH like ME *breathe*] THIRD LINE: just like the first-8 syllables = ⁽¹⁾weak / ⁽²⁾STRONG / ⁽³⁾weak / ⁽⁴⁾STRONG / ⁽⁵⁾weak / ⁽⁶⁾STRONG / ⁽⁷⁾weak / ⁽⁸⁾STRONG [I ONCE was LOST but NOW am FOUND] FOURTH LINE: just like the second-6 syllables = ⁽¹⁾weak / ⁽²⁾STRONG / ⁽³⁾weak / ⁽⁴⁾STRONG / ⁽⁵⁾weak / ⁽⁶⁾STRONG *breathe* [was BLIND but NOW I SEE *breathe*]

In a decent hymnal, the meter will be identified by numbers at the bottom of the page like this: 8.6.8.6 Now you understand what those numbers are for. No, they have nothing to do with numerology or some Masonic hijacking of your church hymnal. I find it crazy that people who argue up and down about keeping hymnals in their churches so often know next to nothing about the metrical index in the back of the hymnal. Go ahead--look at the metrical index. You will see all of the TUNE names that are associated with the same meters. You will discover that 8.7.8.7.D (the "D" stands for "doubled"--meaning that there are 8 lines per stanza instead of just 4) is the meter for NETTLETON, EBENEZER, HYFRYDOL, and HOLY MANNA among others. This means that the texts and tunes for "Come Thou Fount," "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus," "Our Great Saviour," and "Brethren We Have Met to Worship" are all interchangeable. Try it!

Even more astounding (perhaps unsettling?) to some saints is the fact that in America, the oldest tradition of hymnody stemmed from a hymnbook with no music in at all. It was simply a compilation of metrical hymn texts. After 58 years and nine editions there finally appeared 13 melodies for these texts. Lest you think I am full of it, here is a passage to dispel any doubt from a standard Music History Text:

“The Earliest documented music-making in the north American colonies is the singing of psalms. The very first book printed in North America was the Bay Psalm Book (The Whole Booke of Psalmes Faithfully Translated in English Metre), published in Boston in 1640. Although it contained no music, the book directed that the 150 psalms, translated by a committee of New England Puritans, were to be sung. In fact, the ninth edition of 1698 furnished thirteen melodies for this purpose. Congregations were taught and encouraged to read notes and not to depend simply on rote learning. The singing schools established in the eighteenth century, often by itinerant masters, trained a core of amateurs to sing psalm settings and anthems in parts. The availability of such singers became an invitation for composers to write new music.”

—A History of Music, Grout & Palisca, 6th ed, pp 741–742

While I cannot stress the importance of reading music enough, I am quite certain that strong texts--that is thoughtful, biblical, poetic texts that have been purposefully prepared with attention to meter--will call out quality music. I think that it is imperative that our churches become aware of the richness of meter before doing away with their hymnals. Young people are not bored with hymns because of the texts. I'm serious! I prove it every week by singing the Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts to new melodies. Indelible Grace, Sovereign Grace, and other groups have proved it again and again. Consider the success of such _metered_ hymns as "In Christ Alone" [8.8.8.8.D] "Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul" [8.6.8.6.D] "Before the Throne of God Above" [8.8.8.8.D] "How Deep the Father's Love for Us" [8.7.8.7.D] "Thy Mercy My God" [11.11.11.11] . . . I could go on at length. My point is that we have such a rich tradition right under our noses. This has been such a blessing in my church music ministry.

All of the hymn texts you find here are metrical. I hope that you will avail yourselves of them. My spirit burns to see all generations in our churches serving God, in part, by being of one accord--serving one another with heaven-bound faith, hope and love--standing in awe of our infinite God who has infinitely condescended to us through Jesus Christ.

Call to Public Worship

The call to public worship opens our services at Berean. The tune is always familiar but the words are fresh each week. We remind ourselves of who we are in Christ and of the joy bound up in being complimentary parts of the same body. The meter for the texts varies with the tunes sung to. From 24 July 2005 - 28 August 2005, the meter works out well sung to SLANE ("Be Thou My Vision").  The meter for texts from 04 September 2005 - 18 September works out well sung to NETTLETON ("Come Thou Fount"). The meter beginning with 25 September 2005 is common meter, and can be sung to many, many tunes. Some of my favorites are KINGSFOLD ("I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say"), CLEANSING FOUNTAIN ("There is a Fountian Filled with Blood"), AMAZING GRACE, and I SING THE ALMIGHTY POWER OF GOD.  

• 24 July 2005 •

Come to the table where God seats His bride / Hungry for righteousness, thirsting for life / Let us together give thanks for the bread / Daily supplied in the words He has said. 

 Come join the brothers and sisters who share / Part in this body that Christ has prepared / Carry the burdens of others with faith / God will reward hands made weary by grace

Wonder together at what God has done / Choosing His people from all tribes and tongues / Making disciples a kingdom of priests / Light of this world, let us shine forth Your peace

• 31 July 2005 •

Gathered as one in Christ Jesus our King / He leads the triumphant chorus we sing / Through us He spreads a sweet fragrance abroad / No incense rivals the knowledge of God.

Long, long before any words reach our tongue / You know them all, LORD, before songs are sung / Search us and know the intent of our hearts / Still selfish actions before they may start

One in Christ Jesus—one body divine / Destined to look like our Saviour and Friend / Helped in her weakness, the Church must rejoice / Let us together now lift each his voice!

• 07 August 2005 •

No one can counsel the Maker of men / His plans require no change or amends / Steadfast—His love is more pure than our best / Through Him His people find strength and are blessed  

Brothers and sisters behold Jesus’ name / By this our family title is famed / Shout then for joy in our heritage true / God—the immutable—pours grace on you!  

Every gift that is good and divine / Comes as our Father has willed and designed / Forged with great purpose His mercies intend / Growth for His children, His bride and His friends  

• 14 August 2005 •

Seek first the kingdom of God as Christ said / Follow the lead of the Saviour—our head / See how this marvelous grace from above / Brings us together—united by Love

Different strengths and unique talents giv’n / Each one a perfect gift sent down from heav’n / These all are meant to support others first / Those who in Christ have been saved and immersed

Love then as God showed His love to this world / Boldly He died as His grace was unfurled / Come, Christians know well the calling thereof: / All will see Jesus when we act in Love

• 21 August 2005 •

Search me and know me, O LORD of my life / Fit me to boldly step into the light / Tune now my heart to make music with Yours / Make me like Him who I love and adore

Look unto Jesus, O Church of His cross / See perfect holiness stoop down with us / Bought unto fellowship with God divine / There is no room left for selfish designs

Pure by His blood, we are born to new life / No other sacrifice could justify / This is our anthem—eternal refrain! / “Worthy the Lamb who for sinners was slain!” 

• 28 August 2005 •

Satisfy all our desires in the LORD / Tuning each heart to His will like a harp / Earnestly seek Him that growth may increase / Glory in Jesus for He is our peace           

Shielded by faith, our defense is secure / Look unto Jesus who loved and endured / God ever with us, we’re never alone / Glory in Jesus for He is our hope

Sent up like incense and lights on a hill / Christian’s have wonderful jobs to fulfill / Called to be holy—a sweet, new employ / Glory in Jesus for He is our joy! 

• 04 September 2005 • (notice--here the meter changes to 8.7.8.7--sing easily to NETTLETON--"Come Thou fount")

Praise our Savior—He who bought us / We are truly owned by Him. / Praise His willingness to suffer / He—though God—to call us Kin! / This is why we join together: / Christ has born the wrath of God / What a King—to love His people Loved to death . . . New Life He brought!

Sing together Church of Jesus, / Center all your thoughts on Him. / He the Maker of all nature / Great Redeemer from our sin. / God bestowed on Him the Name-of-names; / None shall stand before His face / Bow your soul in pure surrender / Humbly grasp the Gospel’s grace. 

• 11 September 2005 •

How abundant is the mercy / Of our Holy, steadfast God / He who laid our sore transgressions / On his Son’s own flesh and blood / May we never miss the greatness / Of that humble, precious act /May we ever kneel in wonder / Never to that shame turn back  

God delights in truth within us / Truth and wisdom He imparts / Not in sacrifices offered / But a broken, contrite heart / “LORD, prepare us for Your pleasure— / That is why You save men’s souls!” / Making much of God together / Is the Church’s glorious goal

• 18 September 2005 •

God has spoken to his people / From the day He called them out / He foretold their sure departure / He foretold belief and doubt / Yet the LORD—forever faithful— / Speaks a sweeter Word than these / “It is finished!” rings eternal / From the author of our peace

Jesus Christ, our worthy Shepherd, / Is a slaughtered Lamb as well / God the Father’s satisfaction / Rests upon Emmanuel / This was prophesied in scripture— / Yet how many failed to see! / God of mercy be our helper / Let us clearly, rightly read

• 25 September 2005 • (notice--here the meter changes to 8.6.8.6 doubled--sing easily to KINGSFOLD--"I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say")

How often men set out to win / Some merit for their name / And therein think life’s purpose lies: / To joy in fleeting fame / How far removed from hope in God / —this self-ascribing height— / O, Christian, be not satisfied by such a false delight

Our Heav’n-ly Father wages war / Against His bitter foes / How helpless are the multitudes / Who dare His will oppose / Yet in our headstrong state we stand / As though the fight were ours / God’s people should know better than / To trust in their own power

The love that bade Christ bear His cross / —enduring awful shame— / Should cause both fear and joy to rise / in those who bear His Name / As surely as He knows His own / And leads them by the hand / Our faithful God is justified / To crush all other men

• 02 October 2005 • [8.6.8.6 Doubled]

Oh, taste and see that God is good! / Behold His mighty hand: / He reaches people wrecked by sin, / And bears them up to heav’n. / Be not afraid to think upon / That Promised Land to come / Our LORD will all things make anew / ‘Til all His will be done!

Delight in ev’ry beauty of / Creation’s glowing hours / In ev’ry color, sound and scent, / Know our Redeemer’s pow’r. / God looked and saw that it was good / When He had made this Earth / And so He looks at Calvary, / A mount of priceless worth       

Lift up your head, dear Christian—RISE! / Why bear such needless weight? / On Jesus set your shifting eyes, / He masters every fate. / He made our fragile skin from dust, / He numbers every hair / He knows His own and knows their needs, / Take comfort in His care.

• 16 October 2005 • [7.7.7.7 Rounded--sung to the French carol: “Il est né le divin enfant”]

Safe within our Father’s will, Children / let our hearts be still / He who calls each star by name / Orders all our days the same / Cast upon His shoulders broad / Every care while here we trod / Let Him lift us by His grace / That we may endure the race / Safe within our Father’s will, Children, let our hearts be still / He who calls each star by name, Orders all our days the same

Jesus—prophet, priest, and king—/ ever shall Thy triumph ring / Crowned with honor, hail the Lamb! / Wonder at the great I AM / Turn not to the left or right / Straight ahead—so fix our eyes / On to home prepared by God / Lit and cheered by His own Son / Jesus—prophet, priest, and king— / ever shall Thy triumph ring / Crowned with honor, hail the Lamb! / Wonder at the great I AM

• 23 October 2005 • [7.7.7.7 Rounded--sung to the French carol: “Il est né le divin enfant”]

Storms arise and tempests blow / bringing fear to human hearts / Yet the sov’reign hand of God  / must a greater fear impart /Jesus Christ is nature’s Lord / Winds and waves His voice obeyed / At His Word, ‘twas peace restored / His disciples were amazed / Storms arise and tempests blow / bringing fear to human hearts / Yet the sov’reign hand of God / must a greater fear impart

Stand your ground and don’t lose heart! / Look around with eyes of faith / Though assailed on every side, / God shall make our paths run straight / He who leads His sheep aright / To green pastures bathed in light / Through the darkest valley guides /     Safely in His bosom hides / Stand your ground and don’t lose heart! / Look around with eyes of faith / Though assailed on every side / God shall make our paths run straight

Call to Private Worship

The call to private worship closes our services at Berean. The tune is always the same but the words are fresh each week. We remind ourselves of the importance of living our individual lives in full light of God's grace until we meet again together. The meter works out well sung to OLD 100th [Doxology].  

• 24 July 2005 •

Let all of life give praise to God / Not just these moments gathered here / Take captive every word and thought / That we might keep our conscience clear

O Father who created all / Who made us each as You know best / Upon Your mercy now we call / That come what may we might be blessed

Our Savior, Lord, and constant friend / What words can match the joy You bring? / Lift up our face to see the end . . . / To bear our cross and onward sing

• 31 July 2005 •

We thank the LORD for every word / With purpose written for His church / May we be found to lift Him high / Above the trails in our lives.

Awake our souls on each new day / To fervent hope with faith and love / Our eyes unshifting all the way / Sustain us, Father, from above.

Remind our minds of what we read / When we have closed Your holy book / Let truth find fertile ground for seed / That we might like our Savior look

• 07 August 2005 •

From these fresh lessons may we learn / From scripture—clear and understood / Implanted that our hearts may burn / For righteousness that God deems good.

Our lives a living sacrifice / Our bodies, minds and souls we bring / For they were Yours before all time / And you deserve them as our King. 

Infinite, loving, gracious God / How far You stoop to reach us here / We pray that You would lift us up / And with Your sov’reign vision cheer.

• 14 August 2005 •

Beyond the reaches of the sea / And long before our father’s time / Love—all amazing—pled its plea / So stand us here—forever Thine

Now Father as Your children bear / Our daily cross in Jesus’ name / May love design our motives here; / Love for Thy glory, praise and fame

So may the sweetness of your Name / Long linger by the love we show / May all who taste it then proclaim: / Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost!   

• 21 August 2005 •

For wisdom, LORD, to walk aright / We now have listened to Your Word / Make us a pleasure to Your sight / So daily we may rightly serve

Protect us from our many foes / From those unseen and others near / Remind us that you always know / Our every hope . . . our every fear

Your glory always satisfies / Your perfect, just and holy will / We long to spread Your glory wide / To see Your purposes fulfilled

• 04 September 2005 • (notice--here the meter changes to 8.7.8.7--sing easily to HYFRYDOL--"Our Great Savior")

Sing in grateful jubilation / For the living, piercing Word / Truth and wisdom overflowing / For our daily walk preserved / “Father, lift our eyes above our / Reckless, selfish, fleeting fears / Fix our vision on Your Kingdom / You within us—ever near!”

Read and weep for such forgiveness / (So unlike the human heart) / Read to light the way before us / As a lamp dispels the dark / “Make us bright like hill-top cities, / LORD of lords we sing You this prayer, / For Your glory—and no other—send us out to live for Thee.”

• 18 September 2005 •

Look among the nations—look and / See our Holy God at work / He may use a sinful people / Though their blinded hearts be dark / Who can stand before such counsel? / Who can offer Him advice? / Kneel in humble fear, O Christian / Bear your cross and love the light   

Wait in patience, wait in silence / God decrees for each their time / Take your joy in Him completely / Author of new life in Christ / Though the fig tree fails to blossom / Though the olive press runs dry / Though great heartache makes you question. . . / Trust the One who does know why

Run the race with strong endurance / See how Jesus bore His cross! / He deserved complete surrender / Yet He yielded that for us / Let this mind be in each Christian / Let the Church so yield to God! / Faithful, steadfast, ‘til the day when / Every fear will be forgot

• 02 October 2005 • [8.7.8.7 Doubled]

Lord we pray that meditation / Will adjoin your opened Word / Give us each attentive spirits / Let Your Voice be clearly heard / Move within us by Your Spirit / Quick to mercy, slow to wrath / Leave our faces glowing as You / Shine Your light upon our path

As we rise to face each morning / Bring to mind the truth You give / Wisdom richer far than all that’s / Treasured in this world we live / Mercies new for every challenge / Grace sufficient for Your plans! / Teach us all to love endurance / Coach us with Your mighty hand

Metrical Hymn-Meditations on Scripture

Psalm 16
Psalm 139
Matthew 5:27-30
Matthew 17:1-8
Romans 9:19-24
I Corinthians 13:1-3
Ephesians 2:1-10
I John 2:1-11
I Corinthians 15:1-11

Psalm 16  "Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."  As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Common Meter--Doubled. Sounds good sung to "Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul" or "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood (CLEANSING FOUNTAIN)

In You, O LORD, our fears learn peace / Though when our passions stray / To trust in any lesser thing / True hope is torn away / What painful shame and loneliness / Is found when we rebel / There is no good apart from You / Alone:  we end in hell

Delight our souls in godly friends / For often, LORD, we scorn / The sweet embrace of Christian arms, / Your Church redeemed, reborn / Destroy within your children, LORD, / A shrine for evil men— / The wolves, though whom we love through Christ, / Must not confuse with kin

Come chose the LORD who chooses us / Let Him our portion be / Like Levite priests who had not land / But God as guarantee! / No one can think themselves estranged / From their inheritance / Who, having once known Life in Christ, / Is evermore content

Upon the daily path we walk / You measure joy with pain / But, LORD, though tribulations rise / Our hope is glorious gain / Within the reach of our right hand / Is all the power we need / To shake temptation by the neck / And slay all fleshly greed

Psalm 139 "O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, "Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night," even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.

“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain! Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

L.M.D (long meter doubled) This works out fairly well sung to the tune HIGHER GROUND, or the newer hymn BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD ABOVE .

O LORD You’ve placed our very souls / Before Your holy, blazing face / No thing can hide itself from You / Nor can Your mem’ry be erased / We rise to each and ev’ry day / Each one a day that You have planned / We all must tremble at this thought / A thought too wonderful for man

Where can we find a place to hide / From Your all-seeing, Spirit’s eyes? / For they illumine darkest night / And see beneath each quaint disguise / Your loving voice calls, “Where are you?”  / Of this dark world, You are the Light / At Sheol’s gates You cry, “Come forth!” / And death obeys without a fight

Alive within our mother’s womb / Our earthly fathers may have dreamt / Of all the joy that might unfold / From tiny faces, hearts and hands / But prior to this brand new life / Ahead of any plans for love / Preceding all the days of time / Our very form is known by GOD

O LORD how great Your sov’reign mind / To fully know ‘fore Adam breathed / The awful weight that Christ would bear / Yet past the Cross Your vision sees! / Our spirits swell in one accord / May ev’ry tongue confess Your Name! / Yet search and know our restless hearts / And lead us humbly in Your Ways

Romans 9:19-24 "You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory--even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?"

C.M.D (common meter doubled) This works out fairly well sung to the old hymn tune CLEANSING FOUNTAIN ("There is a Fountain").

The children of a promise giv’n / By God to Abraham / Are still elected by His will / Through Christ the risen Lamb / His voice is like a trumpet call / Heard high above our works / All claims to honor in the flesh / Must bow before His Word

Is there transgression on God’s part? / Shall we a grievance find / Against the mighty will of God / Controlling all mankind? / By no means shall the Potter’s clay / Rebuke the hands that frame / Each vessel with the sovereign end / To spread his glorious Name

How dare we answer back to God / As though He were a man!? / His holy, sovereign will to prod / And question what He plans / God’s ev‘ry choice is justified / Let each one mind their tongue / His justice rolls down deep and wide / Long after songs are sung

I Corinthians 13:1-3 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing."

(10.10.10.10) I have my own tune that I wrote for this one, but it works sung to SLANE ("Be Thou My Vision") or LIVING ("Living for Jesus") minus the refrain.

If with enlighten'd lips boldly I speak / Quick to deliver what many men seek / Yet without love testing each uttered word / Meaningless dissonance only is heard.

When with prophetic pow'r giv'n for our time / Deep understandings of myst'ries are mine / Though with all faith I may make mountains move / I am yet nothing when I've failed to love.

Should I in charity give all my wealth / Glad to be proud of divesting myself / If even flames should consume me in death / Nothing is gained without Love that will last.

I John 2:1-11 "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.

(5.5.5.4 doubled--sung to Traditional Gaelic Melody, BUNESSAN)

Matthew 17: 1-8 "And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, 'Rise, and have no fear.' And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only."

(8.6.8.6.D)

To see the Son of God in flesh / Should bring men to their knees / To hear the Father’s voice aloud / Should cause our words to cease. / “Oh LORD of lords, restrain the tongues / You gave us to extol / The sweet perfections of Your grace; / Come, teach us self-control.”

The righteous, holy ways of God / Demand that justice falls / On every child in Adam’s line, / God-haters one and all. / “Oh LORD of lords, Your mercy shines / Like sunlight rays severe / You touch forgiven sinners saying, / ‘Rise, and have no fear.’ ”

The witnesses to glorious hope / Are much like us today / Elijah lifted fervent prayer / And Moses sang God’s praise / “Oh LORD of lords, remind your sons / And all your daughters too / That each shall know You face-to-face / When You make all things new!”

Matthew 5:27-30 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”

(8.6.8.6 D) 

From ages past the Law decreed / That vows 'tween man and wife / Were unto God a sacred creed, / Of steadfast love for life / A faithless soul who scorned the Law / Would die a brutal death / The judgment swift for all who saw / Them take their final breath

But now in this, the age of grace, / The Law has been fulfilled / By Jesus Christ who bore our shame / Whose blood for us was spilt / Consider His atoning blood / That purchased peace with God / Remember that it reached to us / While yet in sin we stood

Come Christians, walk the steadfast Way / And heed the faithful Word / Let perfect Justice, Truth and Grace / Now sanctify our hearts / The calling of the our reborn minds / Is higher than the Law / Remove the flesh whose passions bind / Our souls to hellish lust

Ephesians 2:1-10 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

[7.6.7.6.7.7.7.6—sung to hymn tune: AMSTERDAM]

Workmanship in Jesus Christ—not of our dying flesh! / God, by grace, made us alive—Our Lord, forever blessed! / Faith alone our ballast weight; Faith—a gift of love divine / Freely giv’n to sons of death—who never more shall die!

Art of mercy, grace and love—what mighty craft displayed! / Every child of God prepared for ceaseless, joyful praise / Boasting is forbidden now; Save in Christ our blood-stained king! / He alone has born the wrath deserved by all mankind

Saved to walk in works prepared by God from ancient time / Saved from passions of the flesh and from our darkened minds / Knowing that our Father’s hand Has provided labor sweet / Let us run to do His will and make our joy complete!

I Corinthians 15:1–11 "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed."

Remember when we first received / The preaching of the Word / Did not our hearts within us burn / As gospel truth was heard? / That first-love, like a mighty fount / Of prayer and praise outpoured, / Our softened spirits leapt for joy / And magnified the Lord!

What wondrous news that slaves to sin / And enemies of God / Could serve a righteous Master’s will / Because of Jesus’ blood / Yet this was nothing unforeseen / Come, read the ancient scrolls / The Law of Moses spoke of Him / And prophets long foretold      

He was afflicted and oppressed / Yet held his royal tongue / Immanuel, God born in flesh, / Was beaten, mocked and hung / For three dark nights the faithful mourned, / Their Sabbath steeped in dread, / But then! The humble Servant rose / As Firstborn from the dead!

Proclaim aloud the death of Death / You children of New Birth / Be not ashamed to spread abroad / This Truth throughout the earth / Maintain the message that was preached / Of life beyond the grave / Which you received, in which you stand, / And by which you are saved