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There's a wideness in God's mercy
Was there ever kindest shepherd

Frederick William Faber

Hymnary text authorities: (894 instances) / Was there ever kindest shepherd (40 instances)
Cyber Hymnal™ page
PD

«There's a wideness in God's mercy» is a cento of stanzas taken from a lyric text (13 stanzas) of Faber's that is titled "Come to Jesus" and whose first line is "Souls of men, why will ye scatter". The hymns "Souls of Men, Why Will Ye Scatter" and "Was There Ever Kindest Shepherd" are also centos extracted from that poem.

    
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 grace enough for thousands
Of new worlds as great as this;
There is room for fresh creations
In that upper home of bliss.

For the love of God is broader
Than the measure of our mind;
And the heart of the Eternal
Is most wonderfully kind.

There is plentiful redemption
In the blood that has been shed;
There is joy for all the members
In the sorrows of the Head.

’Tis not all we owe to Jesus;
It is something more than all;
Greater good because of evil,
Larger mercy through the fall.

If our love were but more simple,
We should take Him at His word;
And our lives would be all sunshine
In the sweetness of our Lord.

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?

It is God: His love looks mighty,
But is mightier than it seems;
’Tis our Father: and His fondness
Goes far out beyond our dreams.

But we make His love too narrow
By false limits of our own;
And we magnify His strictness
With a zeal He will not own.

Was there ever kinder shepherd
Half so gentle, half so sweet,
As the Savior who would have us
Come and gather at His feet?
    

Tunes:

WELLESLEY

IN BABILONE

COME TO ME (Vail) (has a refrain)

ALL FOR JESUS (Stainer)
CHARLESTON
CROSS OF JESUS
DAILY DAILY
GOTT WILL'S MACHEN
LORD REVIVE US
RIPLEY
For more tune options, see Come to Jesus (Faber).