Sons we are, through God's election

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Sons we are, through God's election

Author: John Adams
Tune: RESTORATION (Southern Harmony)
Published in 29 hymnals

Piano/Organ
	Sweet By and By

Instrumental
	Early American Hymns - for Bass Instrum…

Handbells
	ARISE ("Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy"…

Representative Text

1 Sons we are, through God’s election,
Who in Jesus Christ believe;
By eternal destination,
Saving grace we here receive;
Our Redeemer
Does both grace and glory give.

2 Every soul of man, by sinning,
Merits everlasting pain;
But thy love, without beginning,
Formed and fixed salvation’s plan.
Countless millions
Shall in life through Jesus reign.

3 [Pause, my soul! adore and wonder!
Ask, “O why such love to me?”
Grace has put me in the number
Of the Saviour’s family;
Hallelujah!
Thanks, Eternal Love, to thee!]

4 These are springs of consolation,
To converted sons of grace;
Finished, free, and full salvation
Shining in the Saviour’s face!
Free grace only
Suits the wretched sinner’s case.

5 When in that blest habitation,
Which my God for me ordained;
When in glory’s full possession,
I with saints and angels stand;
Free grace only
Shall resound through Canaan’s land!

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #69

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Author: John Adams

Adams, John. (Northampton, England 1751-May 15, 1835, Northampton). Baptist. Apprenticed to an iron monger. At age eighteen, united with Baptist church in Northampton of which John Collett Ryland was pastor. Later excluded from the church because of a change of view. After retiring from business, he moved his residence several times bur subsequently returned to Northampton, where he died. His first hymns were published in the Gospel Magazine in 1776. One hymn ascribed to "S. P. R." in Service of Song but written by Adams begins: Jesus is our great salvation, Worthy of our best esteem! This hymn appearing also in Rippon's Selection of 1813 concerns salvation by election as does one other hymn: Sons we are through God's election.… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Sons we are, through God's election
Author:	John Adams
Meter:	8.7.8.7.4.7
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

Ephesians 1:3-7
(hymns)

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Notes

Sons we are through God's election. [Election.] This hymn was given in the Gospel Magazine, April, 1777, in 8 stanzas of 6 lines, based on the words, "’The godly consideration of Predestination and Election in Christ, is full of sweet, pleasant, and unspeakable comfort to godly persons.' — Church of England, Article XVII;" and signed " S. P. K." In J. Dobell's New Selection, 1806, it was repeated, with slight alterations, and the omission of stanzas iii., and given as by " R-----." From the New Selection it has passed into other hymnbooks in the same form. In the S. MSS., the Rev. S. Adams says he believes this hymn to be his father's, but gives no proof, as he has done with others of his father's hymns. The hymn certainly reads like one of Adams's compositions; but his authorship is open to doubt. His usual signature in the Gospel Magazine was "J. A."

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Tune

RESTORATION (Southern Harmony)

ARISE is an anonymous American folk melody. Set to "Mercy, O Thou Son of David," the tune was published in William Walker's (PHH 44) Southern Harmony (1835) with the title RESTORATION. Its name was changed to ARISE (after the refrain in the ballad about the prodigal son) when it was set to Hart's te…

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