June 4, 2005

Have faith in God –
Pray now for great reviving;
Have faith in God –
And not in man's contriving;
Have faith in God –
Beyond all human striving.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Grace! 'Tis a Charming Sound

Philip Doddridge, 1702-1751 (Verses 1, 3)
Augustus Toplady, 1740-1778 (Verses 2, 4, 5)

    For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Ephesians 2:8, 9

Grace, ’tis a charming sound,
Harmonious to mine ear;
Heaven with the echo shall resound,
And all the earth shall hear.

Grace first contrived the way
To save rebellious man;
And all the steps that grace display
Which drew the wondrous plan.

Grace first inscribed my name
In God’s eternal book;
’Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,
Who all my sorrows took.

Grace led my roving feet
To tread the heavenly road;
And new supplies each hour I meet,
While pressing on to God.

Grace taught my soul to pray
And made mine eyes o’erflow;
’Twas grace which kept me to this day,
And will not let me go.

Grace all the work shall crown,
Through everlasting days;
It lays in heaven the topmost stone,
And well deserves the praise.

O let Thy grace inspire
My soul with strength divine
My all my powers to Thee aspire,
And all my days be Thine.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission