Brethren, those who come to bliss

Brethren, those who come to bliss
Come through sore temptations;
May we all, remembering this,
Pray for faith and patience.

See the suffering church of Christ,
Gathered from all quarters;
All contained in that red list
Were not murdered martyrs.

Th' Holy Ghost will make the soul
Feel its sad condition;
For the sick, and not the whole,
Need the good Physician.

Of that mighty multitude,
Who of life were winners,
This we safely may conclude,
All were wretched sinners.

All were loathsome in God's sight,
Till the blood of Jesus
Washed their robes, and made them white;
Now they sing his praises.