I have heard of life eternal,
Say, O say, what may it be!
I have heard there is a heaven;
Is that heaven for me?
I have heard that I’m a sinner,
Heaven from sin forever free!
Yet they say that sinners enter,
Say, how can this be?
I have heard of life eternal,
O! ‘twas joyful news to me
When I heard that into heaven
Sinners enter free.
And I’ll tell the joyful story,
Fellow-sinner, now to you,
Which we both may sing in glory,
Wonderful, yet true.
God so loved poor wretched sinners,
That He gave His only Son;
Jesus came and died to save us;
Now the work is done.
This, O this, is life eternal,
‘Tis to know the eternal God,
‘Tis to know the love of Jesus,
And His cleansing blood.
Thus, O thus, was heaven opened,
Thus alone we enter in,
By the precious blood of Jesus,
Cleansing from all sin.
God has written to invite you,
Don’t His offered love refuse,
God’s own Spirit bids you welcome,
Is not this Good News?
ML 02/17/1946