Union

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Attend, ye saints, and hear me tell

Author: Oliver Holden
Tune: HEAVENLY UNION (11356)
Published in 57 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Atttend, ye saints, and hear me tell
The wonders of Immanuel,
Who sav'd me from a burning hell,
And brought my soul with Him to dwell,
And feel a blessed Union.

2 At first he view;d me from on high,
Beheld my soul in ruin lie,
He look'd on me with pitying eye,
And said to me, as he pass'd by,
With God you have no Union.

3 Then I began to mourn and cry;
I look'd this way and that to fly;
It griev'd me fore that I must die;
I strove salvation for to buy,
But still I had no Union.

4 But when my Jesus took me in,
And with his blood did wash me clean,
’Twas then I hated every sin;
And O! what seasons I have seen,
Since I have felt this Union.

5 I prais'd the Lord both night and day,
From house to house I went to pray;
And if I met one on the way,
I always had some word to say
About this blessed Union.

6 I wonder why old saints don’t sing,
And praise the Lord upon the wing,
And make the heavenly arches ring,
With loud hosannas to their King,
Who brought their souls to Union.

7 Return, backsliders, come away,
And learn to do as well as say;
Be careful that you watch and pray:
Come, bear your cross from day to day,
And then you’ll feel this Union.

8 We soon shall break all nature’s ties,
On wings of love our souls shall rise,
And shout salvation through the skies;
And gain the mark, and win the prize,
And feel a heav’nly Union.

9 Soon all the saints, now here below,
Will leave these climes of pain and wo,
And they will home to glory go;
And there they’ll see, and hear, and know
And feel this heav'nly Union.

10 There we the glorious Lamb shall see,
Who groan'd and dy'd upon the tree;
And spilt his blood for you and me,
That we might his salvation see,
And feel this glorious Union.

11 When we recount life’s dangers o’er,
Review the labours which we bore,
And see ourselves safe on the shore,
With love our Conqueror we’ll adore,
And feel increasing Union.

12 When countless years are roll'd away,
Our vigour suff'ring no decay,
We’ll all as one with rapture say,
We still remember well the day
Our souls first felt this Union.

13 Hail, glorious Jesus! reign on high;
’Tis thou that brought us rebels nigh,
We’ll shout Redemption through the sky,
And praise thee to eternity
For such a glorious Union.

14 The host of heaven shall all agree,
In rapt'rous strains of praise to thee;
Shouting Eternal glory be
To Three in One, and One in Three,
Crying, O this glorious Union.

Source: Society hymns, original and selected on evangelical and experimental subjects #XLIV

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Author: Oliver Holden

Holden, Oliver, one of the pioneers of American psalmody, was born in 1765, and was brought up as a carpenter. Subsequently he became a teacher and music-seller. He died at Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1844. His published works are American Harmony, 1793; the Worcester Collection, 1797; and other Tune books. One of his most popular tunes is "Coronation." It is thought that he edited a small hymn-book, published at Boston before 1808, in which are 21 of his hymns with the signature "H." A single copy only of this book is known, and that is without title-page. Of his hymns the following are in common use:— 1. All those who seek a throne of grace. [God present where prayer is offered.] Was given in Peabody's Springfield Collection, 1835… Go to person page >

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