Christian Songs, Song II

Behold divine free Grace arise, Outshining all the thoughts of man! Sov'reign, preventing, all surprize To him who neither will'd nor ran;

2 Grand as the bosom whence it flow'd Kind as the heart that gave it vent, Rich as the gift which GOD bestow'd, And lovely like the Christ he sent.

3 Did the imperial law of Death, For one man's sin, his whole race doom, And all who draw the human breath, Tho' sinning not like him, inhume!

4 Ev'n here the sov'reign sway of Grace Shines with superior pow'r to save, Than sin to damn, which doom'd the race To one wide universal grave.

5 Sin reign'd to Death; but over Sin And Death, with more imperial sway, Grace spreads her more extensive reign, And doth eternal life convey.

6 Grace, by a righteousness, doth reign, Wrought in the bloody death of God; Where Sin is spoil'd; so Grace doth reign In all the worth of divine blood.

7 Since Sin first slew the human race, An host of daily sins pursues Man to a second death; but Grace Steps sov'reign forward, and rescues;

8 Life more abundant we possess O second man! than Adam lost; An earthly prospect crown'd his bliss; We reigning heav'nly pleasures boast:

9 And as our GOD'S obedience, free, And blood divine, excel by far Man's due, abstaining from one tree; So great's the life thy children share.

10 We, bowing, sing thy death, so strong As all our souls from death defends: Shout, ye redeem'd; for hear your song Begins, and never never ends.