September 16, 2005

Have faith in God –
Prophetic crowns are glowing;
Have faith in God –
Christ’s final victory showing;
Have faith in God –
Each trustful heart is owing.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

O Could I Speak the Matchless Worth

Samuel Medley, 1738-1799

    Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. Psalm 73:25.

    Samuel Medley served in the British Royal Navy until he was wounded in battle at the age of twenty-one. While recuperating from his injury, he was converted to Christ as he was reading a sermon by Isaac Watts. Soon Medley felt the call of God to the ministry and pastored several Baptist churches, including one in Liverpool, where he was especially successful, particularly in work with young sailors.
    This hymn text first appeared in Medley's hymnal of 1789. It was originally titled, "Praise of Jesus", and it presents a rich picture of our Lord. It extols His matchless worth, unfathomable to the human mind; His redemptive work; His characters and many forms of love; His righteousness; and the fact that He will one day receive us to an eternal heavenly Home!

O could I speak the matchless worth,
O could I sound the glories forth which in my Savior shine!
I’d sing His glorious righteousness, and magnify the wondrous grace
Which made salvation mine, which made salvation mine.

I’d sing the precious blood He spilt,
My ransom from the dreadful guilt of sin, and wrath divine;
I’d sing His glorious righteousness, in which all perfect, heavenly dress
My soul shall ever shine, my soul shall ever shine.

I’d sing the characters He bears,
And all the forms of love He wears, exalted on His throne;
In loftiest songs of sweetest praise, I would to everlasting days
Make all His glories known, make all His glories known.

Soon, the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home, and I shall see His face;
Then with my Savior, Brother, Friend, a blessed eternity I’ll spend,
Triumphant in His grace, triumphant in His grace.

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