Forgiveness! ’tis a joyful sound

To malefactors doomed to die;

Publish the bliss the world around;

You seraphs, shout it from the sky!

2 ’Tis the rich gift of love divine;

’Tis full, outmeasuring every crime;

Unclouded shall its glories shine,

And feel no change by changing time.

3 For this stupendous love of heaven,

What grateful honors shall we show!

Where much transgression is forgiven,

Let love in equal ardors glow.

Earth has a joy unknown in heaven—

The new-born joy of sins forgiven!

Tears of such pure and deep delight,

O angels! never dimmed your sight.

2 You saw of old on chaos rise

The beauteous pillars of the skies;

You know where morn exulting springs,

And evening folds her drooping wings.

3 Bright heralds of th’ Eternal Will,

Abroad his errands you fulfill;

Or, throned in floods of beamy day,

Symphonies in his presence play.

4 Loud is the song—the heavenly plain

Is shaken with the choral strain;

And dying echoes, floating far,

Draw music from each chiming star.

5 But I amid your choirs shall shine,

And all your knowledge shall be mine;

You on your harps must lean to hear

A secret chord that mine shall bear.

Lord, I am thine, entirely thine,

Purchased alone by blood divine;

With full consent I yield to thee,

And own thy sovereign right to me.

2 Grant me, in mercy, now a place

Among the children of thy grace;

A wretched sinner, lost to God,

But ransomed by Immanuel’s blood.

O happy day, that fixed my choice

On thee, my Saviour and my God!

Well may this glowing heart rejoice,

And tell its raptures all abroad.

CHORUS.

Happy day, happy day,

When Jesus washed my sins away;

He taught me how to watch and pray,

And live rejoicing every day.

2 O happy bond, that seals my vows

To him who merits all my love!

Let cheerful anthems fill his house,

While to that sacred shrine I move.

3 ’Tis done; the great transaction’s done;

I am my Lord’s, and he is mine;

He drew me, and I followed on,

Charmed to confess the voice divine.

4 Now rest, my long divided heart!

Fixed on this blissful center rest;

Here have I found a nobler part,

Here heavenly pleasures fill my breast.

5 High heaven, that heard the solemn vow,

That vow renewed shall daily hear;

Till in life’s latest hour I bow,

And bless in death a bond so dear.

O sweetly breathe the lyres above,

When angels touch the quivering string,

And wake, to chant Immanuel’s love,

Such strains as angel-lips can sing!

Now I have found the ground wherein

Sure my soul’s anchor may remain;

The wounds of Jesus, for my sin,

Before the world’s foundation slain;

Whose mercy shall unshaken stay,

When heaven and earth are fled away.

2 O Love, thou bottomless abyss!

My sins are swallowed up in thee;

Covered is my unrighteousness;

From condemnation now I’m free;

While Jesus’ blood through earth and skies,

Mercy, free, boundless mercy! cries.

3 With faith I plunge me in this sea,

Here is my hope, my joy, my rest;

Hither, when hell assails, I flee,

I look into my Saviour’s breast.

Away, sad doubt, and anxious fear!

Mercy is all that’s written here.

Redeemed from guilt, redeemed from fears,

My soul enlarged, and dried my tears,

What can I do, O Love Divine,

What to repay such gifts as thine?

2 What can I do, so poor, so weak,

But from thy hands new blessings seek,

A heart to feel thy mercies more,

A soul to know thee, and adore?

3 O teach me at thy feet to fall,

And yield thee up myself, my all!

Before thy saints my debts to own,

And live and die to thee alone!

4 Thy Spirit, Lord, at large impart,

Expand, and raise, and fill my heart!

So may I hope my life shall be

Some faint return, O Lord, to thee.

How happy is the Christian’s state!

His sins are all forgiven;

A cheering ray confirms the grace,

And lifts his hopes to heaven.

2 Though in the rugged path of life

He heaves the pensive sigh;

Yet, trusting in his God, he finds

Delivering grace is nigh.

Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound!)

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

Was blind, but now I see.

3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares,

I have already come;

’Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,

And grace will lead me home.

3 The Lord has promised good to me,

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be

As long as life endures.

4 Yes, when this heart and flesh shall fail,

And mortal life shall cease,

I shall possess within the vail

A life of joy and peace.

How happy every child of grace,

Who knows his sins forgiven!

This earth, he cries, is not my place—

I seek my home in heaven.

2 A country far from mortal sight,

Yet O, by faith I see

The land of rest, the saint’s delight,

The heaven prepared for me.

Grace! ’tis a charming sound,

Harmonious to the ear;

Heaven with the echo shall resound,

And all the earth shall hear.

2 Grace first contrived the way

To save rebellious man;

And all the steps that grace display,

Which drew the wondrous plan.

3 Grace led our wandering feet

To tread the heavenly road;

And new supplies each hour we meet,

While pressing on to God.

4 Grace all the work shall crown

Through everlasting days;

It lays in heaven the topmost stone,

And well deserves our praise.