Christ My Song - 2429

Jesus, immutably the same
(Augustus M. Toplady/Johannes Thomas Rüegg)

Jesus, immutably the same.

1. Jesus, immutably the same,
thou true and loving vine,
around thy all-supporting stem
my feeble arms I twine.

2. Quickened by thee, and kept alive,
I flourish and bear fruit;
my life I from thy sap derive,
my vigour from thy root.

3. Grafted in thee by grace alone,
in growth I daily rise;
and, raised on this foundation-stone,
my top shall reach the skies.

4. I can do nothing without thee:
my strength is wholly thine;
withered and barren should I be,
if severed from the vine.

5. Upon my leaf, when parched with heat,
refreshing dew shall drop:
the plant, which thy right hand hath set,
shall ne'er be rooted up.

6. Till thou hast led me to the place
of pure, immortal joy,
the riches of thy glorious grace
shall all my need supply.

7. Who from eternity decreed
to glorify his own,
will not forsake the holy seed,
nor take away their crown.

8. The righteous shall hold on their way,
nor miss the promised land:
Jesus shall guard them night and day,
and hide them in his hand.

9. Each moment watered by thy care,
and fenced with power divine,
fruit to eternal life shall bear
the feeblest branch of thine.

Augustus M. Toplady, in: Philip Schaff: Christ in Song, 1870, 446-447.