Sovereign Grace Church

Jesus was called…to the marriage.

(JOHN 2:2)

At Cana, Lord, Thou didst appear

To grace a marriage feast;

We ask Thee likewise to be here, 

And be a wedding guest.

Upon the bridal pair look down, 

Who now have pledging hands; 

Their union with Thy favour crown, 

And bless the nuptial bands. 

With gifts of grace their hearts endow;

Of all rich dowries best!

Their substance bless, and peace bestow,

To sweeten all the rest.

In purest love their souls unite, 

That they, with Christian care, 

May make domestic burdens light, 

By taking mutual share.

True helpers may they prove indeed,

In prayer, and faith, and hope;
And see with joy a godly seed,
To build Thy household up.

As Isaac and Rebecca give

A pattern chaste and kind;
So may this married couple live,
And die in friendship’s bind.

On every soul assembled here,

O make thy face to shine;

Thy goodness more our hearts and cheer,

Than richest food or wine.

^{From ‘A Selection of Hymns, for Public Worship’ by William Gadsby}

John Berridge wrote his own epitaph, in part this is what he had engraved on his own tombstone… “Reader! art thou born again? (No salvation without a new birth.) I was born in sin, February, 1716; remained ignorant of my fallen state till 1730; lived proudly on faith and works for salvation till 1754; was admitted to Everton Vicarage, 1755; fled to Jesus for refuge, 1755; fell asleep in Jesus, January 22,1793.” [JOHN 3:1-15]