HYMNS | O Boundless Salvation

William Booth

 1 O boundless salvation! deep ocean of love

O fulness of mercy, Christ brought from above,

The whole world redeeming, so rich and so free,

Now flowing for all men, come, roll over me!

2 My sins they are many, their stains are so deep,

And bitter the tears of remorse that I weep;

But useless is weeping; thou great crimson sea,

Thy waters can cleanse me, come, roll over me!

3 My tempers are fitful, my passions are strong,

They bind my poor soul and they force me to wrong;

Beneath thy blest billows deliverance I see,

O come, mighty ocean, and roll over me!

4 Now tossed with temptation, then haunted with fears,

My life has been joyless and useless for years;

I feel something better most surely would be

If once thy pure waters would roll over me.

5 O ocean of mercy, oft longing I’ve stood

On the brink of thy wonderful, life-giving flood!

Once more I have reached this soul-cleansing sea

I will not go back till it rolls over me.

6 The tide is now flowing, I’m touching the wave,

I hear the loud call of the mighty to save;

My faith’s growing bolder, delivered I’ll be;

I plunge ‘neath the waters, they roll over me.

7 And now, hallelujah! the rest of my days

Shall gladly be spent in promoting his praise

Who opened his bosom to pour out this sea

Of boundless salvation for you and for me.

The Christian Hymnal is studied with songs depicting the sheer majesty and omnipotence of God. The truth is that they can, on their own,  only ever paint a small fraction of the subject they seek to describe. These "Anthems", for that is what they invariably become, bring us exuberantly before His throne with words like "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing" and "Jesus, the Name high over All" to name a couple. They have, of course, become firm favourites throughout the Christian Church. 

 

William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, wrote a wonderful hymn that falls into this category. His song, "O Boundless Salvation" likens Salvation to an all consuming ocean with phrases like "Deep ocean of love" and "Come, roll over me", to mention a couple. The video demonstrates the international nature of the Christian Church and in particular this organisation.