Hymnal: The Christian Hymn-Book
Date: 1829
Compiler: B W Stone and T Adams
Publisher/Printer: N L Finnell
First Line: The Lord is the fountain of goodness and love
Topic: Invitation
Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>
Composer:
Tune:
Hymn Number: 15
Page Number: 019, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsThe Lord is the fountain of goodness and love,
Thro' Eden once flowing in streams from above,
Refresh'd every moment the first happy pair,
'Till sins top the torrent, and brought in despair,
O wretched condition! What anguish and pain!
They thirst for the fountain, but cannot obtain;
To sin's bitter waters they fly for relief,
They drink, but the draught still increases their grief.
Glad tidings, glad tidings! No more we complain,
Our Jesus has led open'd this fountain again:
Now mingled with mercy, enrich'd with free grace,
From Zion 'tis flowing on all the lost race.
How happy the prophet, how pleasant his road,
When led down the stream by the angel of God!
Tho' shallow at first, yet he found it at last
A river so boundless it could not be pass'd.
Come sinner, poor sinner, 'tis boundless and free,
You're welcome, take freely, 'twas open'd for thee:
The Spirit invites you, the bride calls you too,
Come, call all your neighbours, they're welcome with you.
Come all ye dead sinners, here life you will find,
Come all ye poor beggars, ye halt and ye blind;
This water has virtue to heal ass complaints,
Come drink, ye diseas'd, and rejoice with the saints.
Say not "I'm a sinner, and must not partake,"
For this very reason, the Lord bids you take;
Say not "too unworthy, the vilest of all;"
For such, not the righteous, the Lord came to call.
Make not your complaints an excuse to delay,
Let not your transgressions affright you away;
Tho' bad your condition, you're welcome draw near,
Come, come on dear sinner, and cast away fear.
Come Christians, let's venture along down the stream,
The shallows are pleasant, but O let us swim;
Let's bathe in the ocean of infinite love,
And wash, and be pure as the angels above.
Too long have we dreaded to launch the great deep,
And lov'd near the threshold of Zion to keep;
But Jesus now calls us: arise, let us go,
O glory transporting - 'tis heaven below.