Dear Christian people all, rejoice,
Each soul with joy upraising.
Pour forth a song with heart and voice,
With love and gladness singing.
Give thanks to God, our Lord above,
Thanks for His miracle of love!
Dearly He hath redeemed us.

He spoke to His belovèd Son
With infinite compassion:
“Go hence, my heart’s most precious One,
Be to the lost Salvation;
Death, his relentless tyrant, stay,
And bear him from his sins away
With Thee to live forever!”

The Son came, saying: “Cling to Me,
Thy sorrows now are ending;
Freely I give Myself to thee,
Thy life with Mine defending;
For I am thine and thou art Mine,
And where I am there thou shalt shine,
The foe shall never reach us.”

“To Heaven again I rise from hence,
High to my Father soaring,
The Master there to be, and thence
My Spirit on thee pouring;
In every grief to comfort thee,
And teach thee more and more of Me,
Into all truth still guiding.”

“What I have done and taught on earth,
Do Thou, and teach, none dreading;
That so God’s kingdom may go forth,
And His high praise be spreading;
And guard thee from the words of men,
Lest the great joy be lost again:
This my last charge I leave thee.”

Dear Christians, one and all rejoice,
With exultation springing,
And with united heart and voice
And holy rapture singing,
Proclaim the wonders God hath done,
How his right arm the victory won;
Right dearly it hath cost him.

Fast bound in Satan’s chains I lay,
Death brooded darkly o’er me;
Sin was my torment night and day,
Therein my mother bore me.
Deeper and deeper still I fell,
Life was become a living hell,
So firmly sin possessed me.

My good works could avail me naught,
For they with sin were stained;
Free-will against God’s judgment fought,
And dead to good remained.
Grief drove me to despair, and I
Had nothing left me but to die,
To hell I fast was sinking.

God saw, in his eternal grace,
My sorrow out of measure;
He thought upon his tenderness-
To save was his good pleasure.
He turned to me a Father’s heart-
Not small the cost-to heal my smart
He have his best and dearest.

He spake to His beloved Son:
’Tis time to take compassion;
Then go, bright Jewel of My crown,
And bring to man salvation;
From sin and sorrow set him free,
Slay bitter death for him, that he
May live with Thee forever.

The Son delighted to obey,
And born of virgin mother,
Awhile on this low earth did stay
That He might be my Brother.
His mighty power He hidden bore,
A servant’s form like mine He wore,
To bind the devil captive.

To me He spake: cling fast to Me,
Thou’lt win a triumph worthy;
I wholly give myself for thee;
I strive and wrestle for thee;
For I am thine, thou Mine also;
And where I am thou art. The foe
Shall never more divide us.

For he shall shed My precious blood,
Me of My life bereaving;
All this I suffer for thy good;
Be steadfast and believing.
My life from death the day shall win,
My righteousness shall bear thy sin,
So art thou blest forever.

Now to my Father I depart,
From earth to Heaven ascending;
Thence heavenly wisdom to impart,
The Holy Spirit sending.
He shall in trouble comfort thee,
Teach thee to know and follow me,
And to the truth conduct thee.

What I have done and taught, do thou
To do and teach endeavor;
So shall my kingdom flourish now,
And God be praised forever.
Take heed lest men with base alloy
The heavenly treasure should destroy.
This counsel I bequeath thee.

Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice,
With exultation springing,
And, with united heart and voice,
And holy rapture singing,
Proclaim the wonders God hath done,
How His right arm the victory won;
Right dearly it hath cost Him.

Fast bound in Satan’s chains I lay,
Death brooded darkly o’er me,
Sin was my torment night and day,
In sin my mother bore me;
Yea, deep and deeper still I fell,
Life had become a living hell,
So firmly sin possessed me.

My own good works availed me naught,
NO merit they attaining;
Free will against God’s judgment fought,
Dead to all good remaining.
My fears increased till sheer despair
Left naught but death to be my share;
The pangs of hell I suffered.

But God beheld my wretched state
Before the world’s foundation,
And, mindful of His mercies great,
He planned my soul’s salvation.
A father’s heart He turned to me,
Sought my redemption fervently:
He gave His dearest Treasure.

He spoke to His belovèd Son:
’Tis time to have compassion.
Then go, bright Jewel of My crown,
And bring to man salvation;
From sin and sorrow set him free,
Slay bitter death for him that he
May live with Thee forever.

The Son obeyed His Father’s will,
Was born of virgin mother,
And God’s good pleasure to fulfill,
He came to be my Brother.
No garb of pomp or power He wore,
A servant’s form, like mine, He bore,
To lead the devil captive.

To me He spake: "Hold fast to Me,
I am thy Rock and Castle;
Thy Ransom I Myself will be,
For thee I strive and wrestle;
For I am with thee, I am thine,
And evermore thou shalt be Mine:
The Foe shall not divide us.

The Foe shall shed my precious blood,
Me of My life bereaving.
All this I suffer for thy good;
Be steadfast and believing.
Life shall from death the victory win,
My innocence shall bear thy sin;
So art Thou blest forever.

Now to my Father I depart,
The Holy Spirit sending
And, heavenly wisdom to impart,
My help to thee extending.
He shall in trouble comfort thee,
Teach thee to know and follow Me,
And in all truth shall guide thee.

What I have done and taught, teach thou,
My ways forsake thou never;
So shall My kingdom flourish now
And God be praised forever.
Take heed lest men with base alloy
The heavenly treasure should destroy;
This counsel I bequeath thee.

Come, ye that know and fear the Lord,
And raise your thoughts above:
Let every heart and voice accord,
To sing that “God is love.”

This precious truth His Word declares,
And all His mercies prove;
Jesus, the gift of gifts, appears,
To show that “God is love.”

Behold His patience, bearing long
With those who from Him rove;
’Till mighty grace their heart subdues,
To teach them—“God is love.”

Oh, may we all, while here below,
This best of blessings prove;
Till warmer hearts, in brighter worlds,
Proclaim that “God is love.”

Songbirds in the woodlands sing it,
Flowers breathe it in the grove,
Bells in tow’r and steeple ring it,—
God is goodness, God is love.

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Lift your voices, happy, happy voices,
And the sunny hours of life improve;
Praise Him for His countless blessings,—
God is goodness, God is love.

Smiling plains and vales display it,
Breezes tell it as they rove,
Rivers, rills, and brooklets say it,—
God is goodness, God is love.

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Lakes and seas with joy reveal it,
Suns proclaim it from above,
In our hearts today we feel it,—
God is goodness, God is love.

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Come, let us all unite to sing:
God is love!
Let Heav’n and earth their praises bring,
God is love!
Let every soul from sin awake,
Let every heart sweet music make,
And sing with us for Jesus’ sake:
God is love!

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God is love! God is love!
Come let us all unite to sing that God is love.

O tell to earth’s remotest bound,
God is love!
In Christ we have redemption found,
God is love!
His blood has washed our sins away,
His Spirit turned our night to day,
And now we can rejoice to say:
God is love!

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How happy is our portion here,
God is love!
His promises our spirits cheer,
God is love!
He is our sun and shield by day,
Our help, our hope, our strength and stay;
He will be with us all the way;
God is love!

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In Canaan we will sing again:
God is love!
And this shall be our loudest strain:
God is love!
Whilst endless ages roll along,
We’ll triumph with the heavenly throng
And this shall be our sweetest song:
God is love!

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God is love, by Him upholden,
Hang the glorious orbs of light,
In their language, glad and golden,
Speaking to us day and night
Their great story,
God is love, and God is light.

Through that precious love He sought us
Wandering from His holy ways;
With that precious life He bought us;
Then let all our future days
Tell this story,
Love is life, our lives be praise.

Gladsome is the theme and glorious,
Praise to Christ our gracious Head;
Christ, the risen Christ, victorious,
Earth and hell hath captive led.
Welcome story!
Love lives on, and death is dead.

Up to Him let each affection
Daily rise and round Him move,
Our whole lives one resurrection
To the life of life above;
Their glad story,
God is life, and God is love.

God is love; His mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens:
God is wisdom, God is love.

Chance and change are busy ever;
Man decays and ages move;
But His mercy waneth never:
God is wisdom, God is love.

E’en the hour that darkest seemeth
Will His changeless goodness prove;
From the mist His brightness streameth:
God is wisdom, God is love.

He with earthly cares entwineth
Hope and comfort from above;
Everywhere His glory shineth:
God is wisdom, God is love.

Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token,
Love shall be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all men,
Love for plea and gift and sign.

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit,
Into every troubled breast!
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its Beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation;
Pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee;
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heaven we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.

O Love divine and golden,
Mysterious depth and height,
To Thee the world beholden,
Looks up for life and light;
O Love divine and gentle,
The blesser and the blest,
Beneath Thy care parental
The world lies down in rest.

O Love divine and tender,
That through our homes dost move,
Veiled in the softened splendor
O holy household love,
A throne without Thy blessing
Were labor without rest,
And cottages possessing
Thy blessedness are blest.

God bless these hands united;
God bless these hearts made one!
Unsevered and unblighted
May they through life go on,
Here in earth’s home preparing
For the bright home above,
And there forever sharing
Its joy where “God is Love.”

O Thou Who gavest power to love
That we might fix our hearts on Thee,
Preparing us for joys above
By that which here on earth we see:

Thy Spirit trains our souls to know
The growing purpose of Thy will,
And gives to love the power to show
That purpose growing larger still;

Larger, as love to reverent eyes
Makes manifest another soul,
And shows to life a richer prize,
A clearer course, a nobler goal.

Lord, grant Thy servants who implore
Thy blessing on the hearts they blend,
That from that union evermore
New joys may blossom to the end.

Make what is best in each combine
To purge all earthly dross away,
To strengthen, purify, refine,
To beautify each coming day.

So may they hand in hand advance
Along life’s path from troubles free;
Brave to meet adverse circumstance
Because their love points up to Thee.

See, sinners, in the Gospel glass,
The friend and Savior of mankind!
Not one of all the apostate race
But may in Him salvation find!
His thoughts, and words, and actions prove,
His life and death, that God is love!

Behold the Lamb of God, who bears
The sins of all the world away!
A servant’s form He meekly wears,
He sojourns in a house of clay,
His glory is no longer seen,
But God with God is man with men.

See where the God incarnate stands,
And calls His wandering creatures home,
He all day long spreads out His hands,
“Come, weary souls, to Jesus come!
Ye all may hide you in My breast,
Believe, and I will give you rest.

“Ah! do not of My goodness doubt;
My saving grace for all is free;
I will in no wise cast him out
That comes a sinner unto Me;
I can to none Myself deny,
Why, sinners, will ye perish, why?”

Thou Lord, art love, and everywhere
Thy Name is brightly shown;
Beneath, on earth—Thy footstool fair;
Above, in heaven—Thy throne.

Thy Word is love; in lines of gold
There mercy prints its trace:
In nature we Thy steps behold,
The Gospel shows Thy face.

Thy ways are love; though they transcend
Our feeble range of sight,
They wind through darkness to their end
In everlasting light.

Thy thoughts are love, and Jesus is
The loving voice they find;
His love lights up the vast abyss
Of the Eternal Mind.

Thy chastisements are love; more deep
They stamp the seal divine;
And by a sweet compulsion keep
Our spirits nearer Thine.

Thy heaven is the abode of love!
O blessèd Lord, that we
May there, when time’s dim shades remove,
Be gathered home to Thee!

Then with Thy resting saints to fall
Adoring round Thy throne,
When all shall love Thee, Lord, and all
Shall in Thy love be one.

Through love to light! O wonderful the way
That leads from darkness to the perfect day!
From darkness and from sorrow of the night
To morn that cometh singing o’er the sea.
Through love to light! through light, O God, to Thee,
Who art the love of love, th’eternal light of light!

O love that casts out fear,
O love that casts out sin,
Tarry no more without,
But come and dwell within!

True sunlight of the soul,
Surround us as we go;
So shall our way be safe,
Our feet no straying know.

Great love of God, come in!
Wellspring of heavenly peace;
Thou Living Water, come!
Spring up, and never cease.

Love of the living God,
Of Father and of Son;
Love of the Holy Ghost,
Fill thou each needy one.

I have entered the valley of blessing so sweet,
And Jesus abides with me there;
And His Spirit and blood make my cleansing complete,
And His perfect love casteth out fear.

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Oh, come to this valley of blessing so sweet,
Where Jesus will fullness bestow;
And believe, and receive, and confess Him,
That all His salvation may know.

There is peace in the valley of blessing so sweet,
And plenty the land doth impart;
And there’s rest for the weary, worn traveler’s feet,
And joy for the sorrowing heart.

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There is love in the valley of blessing so sweet,
Such as none but the blood-washed may feel,
When Heaven comes down redeemed spirits to greet,
And Christ sets His covenant seal.

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There’s a song in the valley of blessing so sweet,
And angels would fain join the strain,
As with rapturous praises we bow at His feet,
Crying, “Worthy the Lamb that was slain!”

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Gone from my heart the world and all its charms;
Now through the blood I’m saved from all alarms;
Down at the cross my heart is bending low;
The precious blood of Jesus cleanses white as snow.

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I love Him, I love him,
Because He first loved me,
And purchased my salvation
On Calv’ry’s tree.

Once I was lost, and way down deep in sin;
Once was a slave to passions fierce within;
Once was afraid to meet an angry God
But now I’m cleansed from ev’ry stain through Jesus’ blood.

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Once I was bound, but now I am set free;
Once I was blind, but now the light I see;
Once I was dead, but now in Christ I live,
To tell the world around the peace that He doth give.

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Down from His splendor in glory He came,
Into a world of woe;
Took on Himself all my guilt and my shame,
Why should He love me so?

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How can I help but love Him,
When He loved me so?
How can I help but love Him,
When He loved me so?

I am unworthy to take of His grace,
Wonderful grace so free;
Yes, Jesus suffered and died in my place,
E’en for a soul like me.

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He is the fairest of thousands to me,
His love is sweet and true;
Wonderful beauty in Him I now see,
More than I ever knew.

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Christ Jesus my Lord from Heaven came,
To save me from guilt and sin and shame;
His death on the cross of Calvary
Brought pardon and gave me liberty.

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I love Him because He first loved me,
He first loved me, He first loved me;
I love Him because He first loved me,
And died on the cross of Calvary.

He sweat drops of blood in prayer for me,
Heartbroken in dark Gethsemane.
While angels from blessèd realms of light
Gave strength to His aching heart that night.

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Up Calvary’s hill the cross He bore,
And for me a crown of thorns He wore;
They nailed Him upon the tree to die,
Then darkness came over earth and sky.

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My Lord who was slain by sinful man,
A wonderful Friend to me has been;
He rose from the tomb with victory,
And now I love Him who first loved me.

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I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee, my Lord;
I love Thee, my Savior, I love Thee, my God;
I love Thee, I love Thee, and that Thou dost know;
But how much I love Thee my actions will show.

I’m happy, I’m happy, oh, wondrous account!
My joys are immortal, I stand on the mount;
I gaze on my treasure and long to be there,
With Jesus and angels and kindred so dear.

O Jesus, my Savior, with Thee I am blessed.
My life and salvation, my joy and my rest.
Thy Name be my theme, and Thy love be my song;
Thy grace shall inspire both my heart and my tongue.

Oh, who’s like my Savior? He’s Salem’s bright King;
He smiles and He loves me and helps me to sing:
I’ll praise him, I’ll praise Him with notes loud and clear,
While rivers of pleasure my spirit shall cheer.

I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew
He moved my soul to seek Him, seeking me.
It was not I that found, O Savior true;
No, I was found of Thee.

Thou didst reach forth Thy hand and mine enfold;
I walked and sank not on the storm vexed sea.
’Twas not so much that I on Thee took hold,
As Thou, dear Lord, on me.

I find, I walk, I love, but oh, the whole
Of love is but my answer, Lord, to Thee!
For Thou were long beforehand with my soul,
Always Thou lovest me.

I will love Jesus and serve Him, for see
How the dear Savior has watched over me!
How He has guarded and guided my way!
How He has kept me, by night and by day.

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Him will I love, and His will I be,
All because He has first loved me;
Him will I love, and His will I be,
All because He loves me.

I will love Jesus and learn of His will,
Trusting Him ever, through good and through ill;
Seeking His blessing, where’er I may be,
Knowing He cares for the sparrows and me.

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I will love Jesus, and, sure of His love,
I shall be safe as the blessèd above.
Oh! When He calls me to glory on high,
How we will praise Him, the angels and I!

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I will sing of Jesus’ love,
Sing of Him Who first loved me;
For He left bright worlds above,
And died on Calvary.

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I will sing of Jesus’ love,
Endless praise my heart shall give;
He has died that I might live—
I will sing His love for me.

O the depths of love divine!
Earth or Heav’n can never know
How that sins as dark as mine
Can be made as white as snow.

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Nothing good for Him I’ve done;
How could He such love bestow?
Lord, I own my heart is won,
Help me now my love to show.

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My Jesus, I love Thee, I know Thou art mine;
For Thee all the follies of sin I resign.
My gracious Redeemer, my Savior art Thou;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I love Thee because Thou has first loved me,
And purchased my pardon on Calvary’s tree.
I love Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

I’ll love Thee in life, I will love Thee in death,
And praise Thee as long as Thou lendest me breath;
And say when the death dew lies cold on my brow,
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

In mansions of glory and endless delight,
I’ll ever adore Thee in heaven so bright;
I’ll sing with the glittering crown on my brow;
If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.

Jesus washed my sins away,
Blessèd be His Name forever;
Jesus taught me how to pray,
Blessèd be His Name forever.

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Never will I cease to love Him,
Never will I cease to praise Him;
Never will I cease to love Him,
Because He first loved me.

Jesus’ blood has made me whole,
Blessèd be His Name forever;
There is glory in my soul,
Blessèd be His Name forever.

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What a gift of grace divine,
Blessèd be His Name forever;
I am His and He is mine,
Blessèd be His Name forever.

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There’s a crown laid up for me,
Blessèd be His Name forever;
Soon my Savior I shall see,
Blessèd be His Name forever.

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There is a Name I love to hear,
I love to sing its worth;
It sounds like music in my ear,
The sweetest Name on earth.

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O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
Because He first loved me!

It tells me of a Savior’s love,
Who died to set me free;
It tells me of His precious blood,
The sinner’s perfect plea.

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It tells me of a Father’s smile
Beaming upon His child;
It cheers me through this little while,
Through desert, waste, and wild.

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It tells me what my Father hath
In store for every day,
And though I tread a darksome path,
Yields sunshine all the way.

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It tells of One whose loving heart
Can feel my deepest woe;
Who in each sorrow bears
A part that none can bear below.

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It bids my trembling heart rejoice.
It dries each rising tear.
It tells me, in a “still small voice,”
To trust and never fear.

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Jesus, the Name I love so well,
The Name I love to hear:
No saint on earth its worth can tell,
No heart conceive how dear.

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This Name shall shed its fragrance still
Along this thorny road,
Shall sweetly smooth the rugged hill
That leads me up to God.

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And there with all the blood-bought throng,
From sin and sorrow free,
I’ll sing the new eternal song
Of Jesus’ love for me.

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Savior, teach me day by day
Love’s sweet lesson to obey,
Sweeter lesson cannot be,
Loving Him Who first loved me.

With a child’s glad heart of love
At Thy bidding may I move,
Prompt to serve and follow Thee,
Loving Him Who first loved me.

Teach me thus Thy steps to trace,
Strong to follow in Thy grace,
Learning how to love from Thee,
Loving Him Who first loved me.

Love in loving finds employ,
In obedience all her joy;
Ever new that joy will be,
Loving Him Who first loved me.

Thus may I rejoice to show
That I feel the love I owe;
Singing, till Thy face I see,
Of His love Who first loved me.

When the Lord of Love was here,
Happy hearts to Him were dear,
Though His heart was sad;
Worn and lonesome for our sake,
Yet he turned aside to make
All the weary glad.

Meek and lowly were His ways,
From His loving grew His praise,
From His giving, prayer;
All the outcast thronged to hear,
All the sorrowful drew near
To enjoy His care.

When he walked the fields, He drew
From the flowers and birds and dew
Parables of God;
For within His heart of love
All the soul of man did move,
God had His abode.

Lord, be ours Thy power to keep
In the very heart of grief,
And in trial, love;
In our meekness to be wise,
And through sorrows to arise
To our God above.

Fill us with Thy deep desire
All the sinful to inspire
With the Father’s life;
Free us from the cares that press
On the heart of worldliness
From the fret and strife.

And, when in the fields and woods
Were are filled with Nature’s moods,
May the grace be given
With Thy faithful heart to say,
“All I see and feel today
Is my Father’s Heaven.”