Hope Set Before Us

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And be it so, that till this hour

Author: Thomas Gibbons
Published in 12 hymnals

Representative Text

1 And be it so, that 'till this hour,
We never knew what faith has meant,
And, slaves to sin and satan's power,
Have never felt these hearts relent.

2 What shall we do? shall we lie down,
Sink in despair, and groan and die;
And, sunk beneath the almighty's frown,
Not glance one cheerful hope on high?

3 Forbid it, Savior! to thy grace
As sinners, strangers, we wil come;
Among thy saints we ask a place,
For in thy mercy there is room.

4 Lord, we believe; O chase away
The gloomy clouds of unbelief:
Lord, we repent! O let thy ray
Dissolve our hearts in sacred grief!

5 Now spread the banner of thy love,
And let us know that we are thine,
Cheer us with blessings from above,—
With all the joys of hope divine.

Source: A Selection of Hymns: from the best authors, intended to be an appendix to Dr. Watt's psalms and hymns. (1st Am. ed.) #CCXXX

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Author: Thomas Gibbons

Gibbons, Thomas, was born at Beak, near Newmarket, May 31, 1720; educated by Dr. Taylor, at Deptford; ordained in 1742, as assistant to the Rev. Mr. Bures, at Silver Street Chapel, London; and in 1743 became minister of the Independent Church, at Haberdashers' Hall, where he remained till his death, Feb. 22, 1785. In addition to his ministerial office he became, in 1754, tutor of the Dissenting Academy at Mile End, London; and, in 1759, Sunday evening lecturer at Monkwell Street. In 1760 the College at New Jersey, U.S., gave him the degree of M.A. and in 1764 that of Aberdeen the degree of D.D. His prose works were (1) Calvinism and Nonconformity defended, 1740; (2) Sermons on various subjects, 1762; (3) Rhetoric, 1767; (4) Female Worthies,… Go to person page >

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