Sunday morning again, and you know what that means — another entry in my series, Then Sings My Soul: The Hymns of My Youth. This week I’m selecting a hymn by Philip P. Bliss (that’s a real name) written in 1874 — “Wonderful Words of Life.” On December 28, 1876, Bliss told his audience, “I may not pass this way again” and sang a so­lo called “I’m Go­ing Home To­mor­row.” The next day, he and his wife died in a train wreck caused by a collapsed bridge. Of course, I didn’t know any of this when we sang this song during my youthful days. I was somewhat surprised to realize that this hymn is much older than I thought though.

The hymn is pretty much tailor-made for revival meetings, and I can imagine it being sung in evangelistic crusades and tent meetings back when they were in fashion. The church of my youth would definitely have approved.

Wonderful Words of Life

Sing them over again to me,
wonderful words of life;
let me more of their beauty see,
wonderful words of life;
words of life and beauty
teach me faith and duty.

Refrain:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessed one, gives to all
wonderful words of life;
sinner, list to the loving call,
wonderful words of life;
all so freely given,
wooing us to heaven.
(Refrain)

Sweetly echo the gospel call,
wonderful words of life;
offer pardon and peace to all,
wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
sanctify forever.
(Refrain)