1 O now begin thy heavenly theme,
Come, sing aloud in Jesus' name,
Come, you who Jesus' kindness prove,
Come, triumph in redeeming love.
2 Come you, alas! who e'er have been
The willing slaves of death and sin;
Come now, from bliss no longer rove,
Stop, stop and taste redeeming love.
3 Come, mourning souls, dry up your tears,
And banish all your guilty fears;
And see the guilt secure removed,
'Tis cancelled by redeeming love.
4 Come, welcome, all by sin oppressed,
Come, welcome to this sacred rest;
There's nothing brought him from above,
Nothing but true redeeming love.
5 'Tis he subdues the infernal powers,
And his tremendous foes are ours;
Our foes are from his empire drove,
He's might in redeeming love.
6 Come hither and your music bring,
Come, strike aloud your joyful string;
Come mortals, join the praise above,
He's mighty in redeeming love.
7 Come you, who live in Babylon,
Come, hear the voice of Christ the son;
Arise, my fair one and my dove,
O! come and taste redeeming love.
8 The angels that before him stand,
They go and come at his command;
Though they are seated high above,
Never will taste redeeming love.
9 O! ye bright angels, it is true,
That I shall surely out do you;
When I shall reign with him above,
Then I shall sing redeeming love.
Divine Hymns, or Spiritual Songs: for the use of religious assemblies and private Christians 1800