Messenger of the Covenant

Jesus, commissioned from above

Author: Ambrose Searle
Published in 22 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Jesus, commission'd from above,
Descends to men below,
And shews from whence the springs of love,
In endless currents flow.

2 He, whom the boundless Heaven adores,
Whom angels long to see;
Quitted with joy those blissful shores,
Ambassador to me!

3 To me a worm, a sinful clod,
A rebel all forlorn;
A foe, a traitor to my God,
And, of a traitor born:

4 To me, who never sought his grace,
Who mock'd his sacred word;
Who never knew, nor lov'd his face,
And all his will abhorr'd:

5 To me who could not even praise,
When his kind heart I knew;
But sought a thousand devious ways,
Rather than keep the true.

6 Yet this redeeming angel came,
So vile a worm to bless;
He took, with gladness, all my blame,
And gave his righteousness.

7 O! that my languid heart might glow,
With ardour all divine;
And for more love than seraphs knew,
Like burning seraphs shine.


Source: A Collection of Evangelical Hymns #XIII

Author: Ambrose Searle

Serle, Ambrose, a Commissioner in the Government Transport Office, was b. Aug. 30, 1742, and d. Aug. 1, 1812. He published Horae Solitariae: or Essays upon some remarkable Names and Titles of Jesus Christ, &c, 1786. In this work short hymns are appended to some of the articles, and of these, "Jesus commissioned from above" (Redemption), and "Thy ways, O Lord, with wise design" (Providence), have passed into several collections. Serle was also the author of other works. The Rev. E. Bickersteth published Selections from the Works of Ambrose Serle, in 1833. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)  Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Jesus, commissioned from above
Title: Messenger of the Covenant
Author: Ambrose Searle
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Source: Rippon's Coll.
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 22 of 22)
Text

A Collection of Evangelical Hymns #XIII

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.CVIII

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A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #H.CVIII

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A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors. #184

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A Selection of Hymns #CLXXXIV

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Baptist Hymn Book #a137

Church Hymn Book . 3rd ed. #d248

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Hymns for Social Worship #13

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Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #37

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Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #LXIV

The American Seaman's Hymn Book #d112

The Baptist Hymn Book, in Two Parts #d279

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The Baptist Hymn Book #336

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The Baptist Hymn Book #137

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The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #902

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