With harps and with viols

Subtitle: The New Song

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. 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; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Revelation 1:5-6

And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.
Revelation 14:3


With harps and with viols, there stand a great throng
In the presence of Jesus, and sing this new song:

[Refrain]
Unto him who hath loved us and washed us from sin,
Unto him be the glory for ever. Amen.

All these once were sinners, defiled in his sight,
Now arrayed in pure garments in praise they unite:

[Refrain]
Unto him who hath loved us and washed us from sin,
Unto him be the glory for ever. Amen.

He maketh the rebel a priest and a king,
He hath bought us and taught us this new song to sing:

[Refrain]
Unto him who hath loved us and washed us from sin,
Unto him be the glory for ever. Amen.

How helpless and hopeless we sinners had been,
If he never had loved us till cleansed from our sin:

[Refrain]
Unto him who hath loved us and washed us from sin,
Unto him be the glory for ever. Amen.

Aloud in his praises our voices shall ring,
So that others believing, this new song shall sing:

[Refrain]
Unto him who hath loved us and washed us from sin,
Unto him be the glory for ever. Amen.


Author: Arthur T. Pierson (1837-1911);
Composer: Philip P. Bliss;
Tune name: Harps and Viols, also The New Song,
Meter: 6.5.7.5.ref., also 11.12.12.12;
Key: B Flat Major.

Sources: Trinity Hymnal (Philadelphia: Great Commission Publications, 1961), #714; Hymns of Worship and Remembrance (Belle Chasse, LA: Truth and Praise, Inc., 1950), #30 (only 3 verses); Hymns of Truth and Praise (Belle Chasse, LA: Truth and Praise, Inc., 1971), #49. According to Hymnary.org at http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/TH/547 [accessed 18 JAn 2011], this hymn is #547 in the 1990 edition of Trinity Hymnal.

Audio of the tune is available at: Cyber Hymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/e/w/newsong.htm [accessed 26 June 2010], and Trinity Hymnal on Orthodox Presbyterian Church at http://opc.org/hymn.html?hymn_id=834 [accessed 18 JAN 2011].

“When Daniel Whittle and Philip Bliss conducted a six-week campaign in Detroit, Michigan, they stayed in Pierson’s home. Pierson gave Bliss these words and was impressed that Bliss “withdrew for a season of prayer before composing the music.” CyberHymnal at http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/n/e/w/newsong.htm [accessed 26 June 2010].