O How Shall I Receive Thee 2 Lyrics

1. O how shall I receive Thee,
How meet Thee on Thy way,
Blest hope of every nation,
My soul's delight and stay?
O Jesu, Jesu, give me
Now by Thy own pure light,
To know whate'er is pleasing,
And welcome in Thy sight.

2. Thy Zion psalms is strewing,
And branches fresh and fair;
My soul, to praise awaking,
Her anthem shall prepare.
Perpetual thanks and praises,
Forth from my heart shall spring;
And to Thy Name the service
Of all my powers I bring.

3. I lay in fetters groaning,
Thou com'st to set me free!
I stood, my shame bemoaning,
Thou com'st to honour me!
A glory dost Thou give me,
A treasure safe on high,
That will not fail nor leave me,
As early riches fly.

4. Love caused Thy incarnation,
Love brought Thee down to me;
Thy thirst for my salvation
Procured my liberty.
Oh, love beyond all telling!
That led Thee to embrace,
Oh, love all love excelling!
Our lost and fallen race!

5. Rejoice, then, yet sad-hearted,
Who sit in deepest gloom,
Who mourn o'er joys departed,
And tremble at your doom:
He only who can cheer you,
Is standing at the door;
He brings His pity near you,
And bids you weep no more.

6. Ye who with deep contrition
Bemoan your sinful state,
Fear not, Christ gives remission
Of sins, however great:
He comes, who contrite sinners
Will with the children place,
The children of His Father,
The heirs of life and grace.

7. He comes, the Lord, to judgment:
Woe, woe to them who hate!
To those who love and seek Him
He ope's the heavenly gate.
Come quickly, gracious Saviour,
And gather us to Thee,
That in the light eternal
Our joyous home may be.

[Alternate Third verse]

3. Ye, who with guilty terror
Are trembling, fear no more:
With love and grace the Saviour
Shall you to hope restore.
He comes, He comes, who sinners
Shall with the children place,
The children of His Father,
The heirs of life and grace.