1 Exceeding precious is my Lord;
His love divinely free!
And his dear name does health afford,
To sickly souls like me.
2 It cheers a debtor’s gloomy face,
And breaks his prison door;
It brings amazing stores of grace
To feed the gospel poor.
3 And if with lively faith we view
His dying toil and smart,
And hear him say, “It was for you!”
This breaks the stony heart.
4 A heavenly joy his words convey;
The bowels strangely move;
We blush, and melt, and faint away,
O’erwhelmed with his love.
5 In such sweet posture let me lie,
And wet thy feet with tears,
Till, joined with saints above the sky,
I tune my harp with theirs.
Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #756
Berridge, John, born at Kingston, Notis, March 1, 1716, and educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge. In 1749 he was ordained as curate to the parish of Stapleford, near Cambridge, and in 1755 he was preferred to the Vicarage of Everton, where he died Jan. 22, 1793. His epitaph, written by himself for his own tombstone (with date of death filled in), is an epitome of his life. It reads:—
" Here lies the remains of John Berridge, late Vicar of Everton, and an itinerate servant of Jesus Christ, who loved his Master and His work; and after running on His errands for many years, was caught up to wait on Him above. Reader! art thou born again? (No salvation without a new birth.) I was born in sin, February, 1716; remained ignorant of my fallen sta… Go to person page >
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