Forgiveness! 'tis a joyful sound

1 Forgiveness! 'tis a joyful sound
To malefactors doomed to die;
Publish the bliss the world around;
Ye seraphs, shout it from the sky!

2 'Tis the rich gift of love divine;
'Tis full, out-measuring every crime;
Unclouded shall its glories shine,
And fee no change, by changing time.

3 O'er sins unnumbered as the sand,
And like the mountains for their size,
the seas of sovereign grace expand,
The seas of sovereign grace arise.

4 For this stupendous love of heaven
What grateful honors shall we show?
Where much transgression is forgiven
Let love in equal ardors glow.

5 By this inspired, let all our days
With various holiness be crowned,
Let truth and goodness, prayer and praise
In all abide, in all abound.

The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the most approved authors, 1799