Hymn 290. The Heavenly Conqueror

Rev. 3. 21. 

        To Jesus, our victorious Lord,

         The praises of our lives belong;

         For ever be his name ador’d:

         Sweet theme of every thankful song.

         Lost in despair, beset with foes,                                                            

         Undone, and perishing we lay;

         His pity melted o’er our woes

         And sav’d the trembling, dying prey.

         He sought, he conquer’d, though he fell,

         While with his last expiring breath,                                                                 

         He triumph’d o’er the powers of Hell,

         And by his dying vanquish’d death.

         Now on his Father’s throne he reigns,

         And all the tuneful choir above

         Resound in high immortal strains,                                                                  

         The praises of victorious love.

         Though still reviving foes arise,

         Temptations, sins, and doubts appear,

         And pain our hearts, and fill our eyes

         With many a groan, and many a tear:                                                             

         Still shall we fight, and still prevail,

         In our almighty Leader’s name;

         His strength, whene’er our spirits fail,

         Shall all our active powers inflame.

         Immortal honours wait above,                                                              

         To crown the dying conqueror’s brow;

         And endless peace, and joy, and love,

         For the short war sustain’d below.

         Exalted near their Saviour’s seat,

         His saints shall dwell, their dangers o’er,                                            

         And cast their crowns beneath his feet,

         And love, and wonder, and adore.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 1, pp. 97-98; Collection of Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, no. 290 (all stanzas); Poems, 1780, vol. 1, pp. 94-95; MS, Steele Collection, STE 3/1/1 no. 52, Angus Library, Regents Park College,  Oxford.