From Oremus Hymnal
Souls of men, why will ye scatter
like a crowd of frightened sheep?
Foolish hearts, why will ye wander
from a love so true and deep?
Was there ever kindest shepherd
half so gentle, half so sweet,
as the Savior who would have us
come and gather round his feet?
There's a wideness in God's mercy,
like the wideness of the sea;
there's a kindness in his justice,
which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth's sorrows
are more felt than up in heaven;
there is no place where earth's failings
have such kindly judgment given.
There is welcome for the sinner,
and more graces for the good;
there is mercy with the Savior;
there is healing in his blood.
There is plentiful redemption
in the blood that has been shed;
there is joy for all the members
in the sorrows of the Head.
For the love of God is broader
than the measure of man's mind.
and the heart of the Eternal
is most wonderfully kind.
But we make his love too narrow
by false limits of our own;
and we magnify its strictness
with a zeal he will not own.
Pining souls, come nearer Jesus,
and O come not doubting thus,
but with faith that trusts more bravely
his great tenderness for us.
If our love were but more simple,
we should take him at his word:
and our lives would be all sunshine
Historical Notes
Author
Meter
87 87 D
Music
Sound files
Other Comments
Sources
Hymnals
| Hymnal
| Number
| Tunes Used
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| Hymns of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 1826
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| Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861-1874
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| The Year of Praise, 1867
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| The Anglican Hymn Book, 1868
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| The Sarum Hymnal, 1869
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| The Parish Hymnal, 1870
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| The Church Hymnal (US), 1871-1874
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| Church Hymns with Tunes, 1874
| #
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| Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1874
| #
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| Hymns Ancient & Modern, Standard, 1875-1924
| #
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| A Church of England Hymn Book, 1879
| #
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| The Universal Hymn Book, 1885
| #
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| The Mission Hymnal, 1885
| #
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| The Hymnal Companion, 1890
| #
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| The Hymnal Companion, 1890
| #
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| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Darlington)
| #
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| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Parker)
| #
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| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Hutchins)
| #
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| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Tucker & Rousseau)
| #
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| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Helfenstein)
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| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Messiter)
| #
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| The Yattendon Hymnal, 1900
| #
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| The Church Hymnary (Scotland), 1902
| #
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| Church Hymns, New Edition, 1903
| #
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| Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition, 1904
| #
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| The English Hymnal, 1906
| #
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| The Book of Common Praise (Canada), 1908
| #
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| The Mission Hymnal, 1913
| #
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| The Hymnal 1916 (US)
| #
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| Church Hymnal for the Christian Year, 1917
| #
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| Church Hymnal (Ireland), 1919
| #
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| Church Hymnal Revised, 1920 (Hutchins)
| #
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| The Oxford Hymn Book, 1925
| #
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| Songs of Praise, 1925
| #
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| Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition, 1931
| #
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| The Book of Common Praise (Canada), 1938
| #
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| The Hymnal 1940 (US)
| #
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| Christian Worship, 1941
| #
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| Hymns Ancient & Modern, Revised, 1950
| #
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| The Mirfield Mission Hymn Book, 1955
| #
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| Church Hymnal (Ireland), 1960
| #
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| Anglican Hymn Book, 1965
| #
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| The Hymn Book 1971 (Canada)
| #
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| The Australian Hymn Book, 1977
| #
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| The Hymnal 1982 (US)
| #
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| Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard, 1983
| #
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| The New English Hymnal, 1985
| #
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| Hymns for Today's Church, 1987
| #
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| Church Family Worship, 1988
| #
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| Hymns Old & New, New Anglican, 1996
| #
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| Common Praise (Canada), 1998
| #
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| Together in Song (Australia), 1999
| #
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| Sing Glory, 1999
| #
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| Complete Mission Praise, 2000
| #
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| Common Praise, 2000
| #
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| Hymns Old & New, Complete Anglican, 2000
| #
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| Church Hymnal (Ireland), 2000
| #
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| The Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition (Scotland), 2005
| #
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| The Book of Hymns, 2006
| #
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| Zion Still Sings, 2007
| #
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