A Hymn Of Grace -- By: Keith W. Ward

Journal: Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society
Volume: JOTGES 09:1 (Spring 1996)
Article: A Hymn Of Grace
Author: Keith W. Ward


A Hymn Of Grace

Keith W. Ward

Scientist
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Pittsboro, North Carolina

To God Be The Glory

To God be the glory, great things He hathdone;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life, an atonement for sin,
And opened the lifegate, that all may go in.

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood,
To every believer, the promise of God;
The vilest offender who truly believes,
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son;
But purer, and higher, and greater will be
Our wonder, our transport1 , when Jesus we see!

Refrain:

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,
Let the people rejoice!
O come to the Father, through Jesus the Son,
And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!

—Fanny J. Crosby (1820–1915)

Frances (Fanny) Jane Crosby ranks among the Church’s greatest writers of hymns and spiritual songs. Over the course of her more than 90 years of life, she composed more than 8,000 texts, many of which have been set to music and are today our favorite hymns of the faith. These

include “Praise Him! Praise Him!,” “Tell Me the Story of Jesus,” “I Am Thine, O Lord,” “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross,” “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is Mine,” “All the Way My Savior Leads Me,” and “Jesus is Tenderly Calling.” This prodigious output is made more remarkable still with the realization that Crosby2 was totally blind from six years of age; she praised the Creator and Light of the World for more than 80 years without actually seeing the work of His hands.

“To God Be the Glory” is well-recognized as a wonderful hymn of praise and adoration of God. Written and first published in 1875, it was used by Ira Sankey in the British editions of his famous song books. However, it was not included in the U.S. editions, and so was practically unknown in North America until it was first used by Cliff Barrows in a Billy Graham Crusade in Nashville in 1954.3 Since that time, it has become one of the most well-known and loved of songs.

Several aspects of this beloved composition set it forth not only as a hymn of praise, but also as a hymn of grace...

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