Dear Christians One and All Rejoice

Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice,
With exultation springing,

And with united heart and voice
And holy rapture singing,

Proclaim the wonders God has done,
How His right arm the vict’ry won,

What price our ransom cost Him!

Fast bound in Satan’s chains I lay;
Death brooded darkly o’er me.

Sin was my torment night and day;
In sin my mother bore me.

But daily deeper still I fell;
My life became a living hell,

So firmly sin possessed me.

My own good works all came to naught,
No grace or merit gaining;

Free will against God’s judgment fought,
Dead to all good remaining.

My fears increased till sheer despair
Left only death to be my share;

The pangs of hell I suffered.

But God had seen my wretched state
Before the world’s foundation,

And mindful of His mercies great,
He planned for my salvation.

He turned to me a father’s heart;
He did not choose the easy part

But gave His dearest treasure.