1 Great Redeemer, friend of sinners,
Thou hast wondrous power to save;
Grant me grace, and still protect me,
Over life’s tempestuous wave:
May my soul with sacred transport,
View the dawn while yet afar,
And until the sun arises,
Lead me by the morning star.
2 O! what madness! O! what folly,
That my heart should go astray;
After vain and foolish trifles,
Trifles only of a day:
This vain world with all its pleasures,
Very soon will be no more;
There’s no object worth admiring,
But the God whom we adore.
3 See the happy spirits waiting,
On the banks beyond the stream,
Sweet responders still repeating,
Jesus, Jesus is their theme:
Hark! they whisper, lo! they call me,
Sister spirit, come away;
Lo! I come, earth can’t contain me,
Hail the realms of endless day.
4 Swiftly roll, ye lingering hours,
Seraphs, lend your glittering wings;
Love absorbs my ransom powers,
Heavenly song around me rings,
Worlds of light and crowns of glory,
Far above yon azure sky,
Only now by faith I see you;
Soon I hope to dwell on high.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #12073
William Williams, called the "Watts of Wales," was born in 1717, at Cefn-y-coed, near Llandovery, Carmarthenshire. He originally studied medicine, but abandoned it for theology. He was ordained Deacon in the Church of England, but was refused Priest's Orders, and subsequently attached himself to the Calvinistic Methodists. For half a century he travelled in Wales, preaching the Gospel. He died in 1791. Williams composed his hymns chiefly in the Welsh language; they are still largely used by various religious bodies in the principality. Many of his hymns have appeared in English, and have been collected and published by Sedgwick. His two principal poetical works are "Hosannah to the Son of David," and "Gloria in Excelsis."
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