Text:Jesus, the Soul of Music

114. Jesus, the Soul of Music

1 Listed into the cause of sin
Why should a good be evil?
Music alas! too long has been
Press'd to obey the devil;
Drunken, or lewd, or light, the lay
Flows to the soul's undoing,
Widens and strews with flow'rs the way
Down to eternal ruin.

2 Who on the part of God will rise?
Innocent mirth recover?
Fly on the prey and take the prize,
Plunder the carnal lover?
Strip him of ev'ry moving strain,
Ev'ry melting measure,
Music in virtue's cause retain,
Revive the holy pleasure.

3 Come let us try if Jesu's love
Cannot as well inspire us;
This is the theme of them above
This upon earth will save us:
Try if your hearts are tun'd to sing;
Is there a subject greater?
Melody all its strains may bring,
Jesus' love is sweeter.

4 Jesus the soul of music is,
He is the noblest passion;
Jesus's name is life and peace,
Happiness and salvation;
Jesus's name the dead can raise,
Shew us our sins forgiven,
Fill us with all the life of grace,
And carry us up to heaven.

5 Who hath a right like us to sing
Us who his mercy raises?
Merry our hearts, for Christ is King,
Joyful are all our faces.
Who of his love doth once partake,
He in the Lord rejoices;
Melody in our hearts we make,
Melody with our voices.

6 He that a sprinkled conscience hath,
He that in God is merry:
Let him sing psalms, the spirit faith,
Joyful and ne'er be weary;
Offer the sacrifice of praise,
Hearty and never ceasing;
Spiritual songs and anthems raise,
Worship and thanks and blessing.

7 Come let us in his praises join,
Triumph in his salvation;
Glory aspire to love divine,
Worship and adoration:
Heaven already is begun,
Open'd in each believer:
Only believe, and then sing on,
Heave is ours for ever.

Text Information
First Line: Listed into the cause of sin
Title: Jesus, the Soul of Music
Language: English
Publication Date: 1803
Tune Information
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