It Is A Thing Most Wonderful

Representative Text

1 It is a thing most wonderful,
almost too wonderful to be,
that God's own Son should come from heav'n,
and die to save a child like me.

2 And yet I know that it is true:
He chose a poor and humble lot,
and wept and toiled and mourned and died
for love of those who loved Him not.

3 I cannot tell how He could love
a child so weak and full of sin;
His love must be most wonderful
if He could die my love to win.

4 I sometimes think about the cross,
and shut my eyes, and try to see
the cruel nails and crown of thorns,
and Jesus crucified for me.

5 But even could I see Him die,
I could but see a little part
of that great love which, like a fire,
is always burning in His heart.

6 It is most wonderful to know
His love for me so free and sure;
but 'tis more wonderful to see
my love for Him so faint and poor.

7 And yet I want to love Thee, Lord;
O light the flame within my heart,
and I will love Thee more and more,
until I see Thee as Thou art.

Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #277

Author: William Walsham How

William W. How (b. Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England, 1823; d. Leenane, County Mayo, Ireland, 1897) studied at Wadham College, Oxford, and Durham University and was ordained in the Church of England in 1847. He served various congregations and became Suffragan Bishop in east London in 1879 and Bishop of Wakefield in 1888. Called both the "poor man's bishop" and "the children's bishop," How was known for his work among the destitute in the London slums and among the factory workers in west Yorkshire. He wrote a number of theological works about controversies surrounding the Oxford Movement and attempted to reconcile biblical creation with the theory of evolution. He was joint editor of Psalms and Hymns (1854) and Church Hymns (1871). While rec… Go to person page >

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The Cyber Hymnal #2843
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Instances

Instances (1 - 24 of 24)
Text

Ancient and Modern #145

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #364a

Anglican Hymns Old and New (Rev. and Enl.) #364b

Church Family Worship #232

Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #226

Text

Common Praise #109

Text

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #333a

TextPage Scan

Complete Anglican Hymns Old and New #333b

Page Scan

Complete Mission Praise #346

TextPage Scan

CPWI Hymnal #651

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #70a

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #70b

Hymns and Psalms #224

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #131a

Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) #131b

Hymns Old and New #255

TextPage Scan

Hymns to the Living God #161

TextPage Scan

Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #277

Sing Glory #557

Songs of Fellowship #252

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #2843

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #410a

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #410b

Text

The New English Hymnal #84

Include 29 pre-1979 instances
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