John Flavel’s Hymn

by R.A. Miller
Published December 1st, 2022.

While combing through volume 6 of John Flavel’s works, I stumbled upon a hymn that he wrote. While many know him as a profound Puritan author, he apparently had a bit of talent for lyrics. This hymn is mainly focused on verses from Romans 5, and the last few verses are from Revelation 1. The lyrics focus on Christ’s love for us and His kingship. The metre for this song is common metre (8.6.8.6). It is titled “A Hymn Upon Romans v. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11” in his complete works.

“A Hymn Upon Romans v. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11”

When we were destitute of strength,
Ourselves to help or save,
Christ for ungodliness, at length,
His life a ransom gave.

For one that's righteous, we would grudge
To lay our life at stake;
And for a good man, it were much
Such an exchange to make.

But God his matchless love commends
In that Christ Jesus dies
For us, when we were not his friends,
But wretched enemies.

Much more, being justified, and free
Thro' his own blood, from sin;
From wrath to come we sav'd shall be,
Ev'n by the life of him.

For if, when enemies, for us
Christ's death did end the strife;
Much more, when reconciled thus,
He'll save us by his life.

Yea, more than so, we triumph now
In God with one accord,
Having receiv'd atonement through
Christ Jesus our own Lord.


Wherefore to him, who is the first
Begotten of the dead,
Who over earthly princes must
Be supreme Lord and Head:

Ev'n unto him who lov'd us so,
To wash us in his blood,
And make us kings and priests unto
His Father and his God:

To him dominion therefore,
By us be given, when
This present world shall be no more;
To which we say, Amen.

Scripture References (King James Version)
Romans 5:6-11
6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.




7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.



8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.



9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.



10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.



11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.



Revelation 1:5-6
5a And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.



5b-6a Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father



6b to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.