The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal ‎#400

400. Be It According to Thy Word

1 Be it according to Thy word,
Merciful unto all, O Lord.
Be merciful to me:
Avert the wrath I deprecate,
Nor crush me with Thy judgments weight,
Who would return to Thee,
Who would return to Thee.

2 Thy wrath shall not forever last,
If pained at my pollutions past,
I groan to be made clean:
And lo, I now with grief confess
My inward parts are wickedness.
And all my life is sin,
And all my life is sin.

3 I have mine idols multiplied,
Before the shrine of self and pride
With vile devotion fell;
Followed where'er the tempter led,
And by each beastly, devilish deed
Debased my soul to hell,
Debased my soul to hell.

4 My heart was hardened from Thy fear,
Thy warning voice I would not hear.
But cast Thy words behind:
Yet for my Saviour's sake forgive;
And in Thy mercy's arms receive
Our whole apostate kind,
Our whole apostate kind.

AMEN.

Text Information

• First Line: Be it according to Thy word
• Title: Be It According to Thy Word
• Author: Charles Wesley, 1707-1788
• Meter: 8 8 6 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1999
• Topic: The Call to Salvation

Tune Information

• Name: ARIEL
• Arranger: Lowell Mason, 1792-1872
• Meter: 8 8 6 D
• Key: D♭ Major