The Cyber Hymnal ‎#2620

2620. Hail, Sovereign Love

1. Hail, sovereign love that formed the plan
To save rebellious, ruined man!
Hail, matchless, free, eternal grace,
That gave my soul a hiding-place.

2. Against the God that rules the sky,
I fought, with weapons lifted high,
I madly ran the sinful race,
Regardless of a hiding-place.

3. Enwrapped in thick Egyptian night,
And fond of darkness more than light,
Madly I ran the sinful race,
Secure without a hiding place.

4. But thus th’ eternal counsel ran,
Almighty Love, arrest that man!
I felt the arrows of distress,
And found I had no hiding place.

5. Indignant justice stood in view,
To Sinai’s fiery mount I flew,
But Justice cried with frowning face,
This mountain is no hiding place!

6. But a celestial voice I heard,
A bleeding Savior then appeared;
Led by the Spirit of His grace,
I found in Him a hiding-place.

7. On Him the weight vengeance fell,
That else sunk a world to hell;
Then, O my soul, forever praise
Thy Savior God, thy hiding-place!

8. Should storms of sevenfold vengeance roll,
And shake this earth from pole to pole;
No flaming bolt could daunt my face,
For Jesus is my hiding place.

9. A few more rolling suns at most,
Shall land me safe on Heaven’s coast.
There I shall sing the song of grace,
To Jesus Christ, my hiding place!

Text Information

• First Line: Hail, sovereign love that formed the plan
• Title: Hail, Sovereign Love
• Author: Jehoida Brewer (1776)
• Meter: LMD
• Language: English
• Source: Gospel Magazine, October 1776
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: DUANE STREET fits only if an even number of stanzas is used, so the eighth stanza is commonly omitted with this tune. Alternate tunes: BELOIT, Karl G. Reissiger, 1798-1859; BERA, John E. Gould, 1849; MARYTON, H. Percy Smith, 1874

Tune Information

• Name: DUANE STREET
• Composer: George Coles (1835)
• Meter: LMD
• Incipit: 51331 24423 17125
• Key: A♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain