1.
OUT of the distance and darkness so deep,
Out of the settled and perilous sleep;
Out of the region and shadow of death,
Out of its foul and pestilent breath;
Out of the bondage and wearying chains,
Out of companionship ever with stains;
Into the light and the glory of God,
Into the holiest, made clean by blood;
Into His arms, the embrace and the kiss,
Into the scene of ineffable bliss;
Into the quiet, the infinite calm,
Into the place of the song and the psalm.
Wonderful love, that has wrought all for me!
Wonderful work, that has thus set me free!
Wonderful ground upon which I have come!
Wonderful tenderness, welcoming home!
2.
Out of disaster and ruin complete,
Out of the struggle and dreary defeat;
Out of my sorrow and burden and shame,
Out of the evils too fearful to name;
Out of my guilt, and the criminal's doom,
Out of the dreading, the terror, the gloom:—
Into the sense of forgiveness and rest,
Into inheritance with all the blest;
Into a righteous and permanent peace,
Into the grandest and fullest release;
Into the comfort without an alloy,
Into a perfect and confident joy.
Wonderful holiness, bringing to light!
Wonderful grace, putting all out of sight!
Wonderful wisdom, devising, the way!
Wonderful power, that nothing could stay!
3.
Out of the horror at being alone,
Out, and forever, of being my own;
Out of the hardness of heart and of will,
Out of the longings which nothing could fill;
Out of the bitterness, madness and strife,
Out of myself, and of all I called life;—
Into communion with Father and Son,
Into the sharing of all that Christ won;
Into the ecstasies full to the brim,
Into the having of all things with Him;
Into Christ Jesus, there ever to dwell,
Into more blessings than words e'er can tell.
Wonderful lowliness, draining my cup!
Wonderful purpose, that ne'er gave me up!
Wonderful patience, enduring and strong!
Wonderful glory, to which I belong!
4.
Out of my poverty, into His wealth,
Out of my sicknesses, into pure health;
Out of the false, and into the true,
Out of the old man, into the new;
Out of what measures the full depth of "LOST!"
Out of it all, and at infinite cost!
Into what must with that cost correspond,
Into that which there is nothing beyond;
Into the union which nothing can part,
Into what satisfies His, and my heart!
Into the deepest of joys ever had—
Into the gladness bf making God glad!
Wonderful Person, whom I shall behold!
Wonderful story, then all to be told!
Wonderful all the dread way that He trod!
Wonderful end, He has brought me to God!