'Listed into the cause of sin,
Why should a good be evil?
Music, alas! too long has been
Pressed to obey the devil;
Drunken, or lewd, or light, the lay
Flows to the soul's undoing,
Widens and strews with flowers the way
Down to eternal ruin.
Who on the part of God will rise,
Innocent mirth recover,
Fly on the prey and seize the prize,
Plunder the carnal lover;
Strip him of every moving strain,
Every melting measure,
Music in virtue's cause retain,
Rescue the holy pleasure?
Come, let us see if Jesus' love
Cannot as well inspire us:
This is the theme of those above,
This upon earth shall fire us:
Try, if your hearts are tuned to sing;
Is there a subject greater?
Melody all its strains may bring,
Jesus' name is sweeter.
Jesus the soul of music is,
His is the noblest passion;
Jesus' name is life and peace,
Happiness and salvation!
Jesus' name the dead can raise,
Show us our sins forgiven,
Fill us with all the light of grace,
Carry us up to heaven!
Who hath a right like us to sing,
Us who his mercy raises?
Merry our hearts, for Christ is King,
Joyful are all our faces.
Who of his love doth once partake,
He in the Lord rejoices;
Melody in our hearts, we make
Melody with our voices.
He that a sprinkled conscience hath,
He that in God is merry;
Let him sing psalms, the Spirit saith,
Joyful and ne'er be weary;
Offer the sacrifice of praise,
Hearty and never ceasing,
Spiritual songs and anthems raise,
Worship and thanks and blessings.
Come let us in his praises join,
Triumph in his salvation,
Glory ascribe to love divine,
Worship and adoration.
Heaven already is begun,
Opened in each believer,
Only believe and then sing on,
Heaven is ours forever.