'Now I have found the ground wherein' by Johann Roth and translated by John Wesley

This hymn along with many of the Wesley brothers hymns has as its subject 'the love of God'. This particular hymn was originally written by Johann Roth and translated from the German by John Wesley. The hymn is a powerful confession of God's love, referring that it had its origin before the very world's foundation and will stretch until after Heaven and earth have vanished- from everlasting to everlasting. That love is also beyond what our poor thoughts can ever think or imagine. It depth is limitless- great enough to swallow up all our sins and all our guilt! It is a sea we can swim in -without 'anxious fear' and  'sad doubt', rather, a sea of hope, of rest and of rest! It is a sea of mercy : a sea of grace. Even if the very worst of life's trials will hit us - loss of strength of health or even friends. Though they will go over our heads, His mercy will be enough! Thoughts of Romans 8 are here and Paul's grand confession that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.I like the stance that the writer takes in the last verse:'Fixed on this ground will I remain'.  In a world when philosophies change and even more our feelings and emotions, he has taken his stand on what I call a 'non-negotiable'. He has got the best deal, the best promise, the best covenant  he can get and he is not for moving- he is loved with an everlasting love. Hold on to this dear brother and sister, and if you are outside God's Kingdom today I  on His behalf invite you in. He speaks here of God's heart :

'Thy heart still melts with tenderness,

Thy arms of love still open are,

Returning sinners to receive,

That mercy they may taste and live.'

Come now into His arms and experience that great mercy that you may truly live.AK

Now I have found the ground wherein
Sure my soul’s anchor may remain,
The wounds of Jesus, for my sin
Before the world’s foundation slain;
Whose mercy shall unshaken stay,
When Heaven and earth are fled away.

Father, Thine everlasting grace
Our scanty thought surpasses far;
Thy heart still melts with tenderness,
Thy arms of love still open are,
Returning sinners to receive,
That mercy they may taste and live.

O Love, Thou bottomless abyss,
My sins are swallowed up in Thee!
Covered is my unrighteousness,
Nor spot of guilt remains on me,
While Jesus’ blood, through earth and skies,
Mercy, free, boundless mercy, cries.

By faith I plunge me in this sea,

Here is my hope, my joy, my rest;
Hither, when hell assails, I flee,
I look into my Savior’s breast;
Away, sad doubt, and anxious fear!
Mercy is all that’s written there.

Though waves and storms go o’er my head,

Though strength, and health, and friends be gone,
Though joys be withered all and dead,
Though every comfort be withdrawn,
On this my steadfast soul relies,
Father, Thy mercy never dies.

Fixed on this ground will I remain,
Though my heart fail, and flesh decay;
This anchor shall my soul sustain,
When earth’s foundations melt away;
Mercy’s full power I then shall prove,
Loved with an everlasting love.

Rothe, Johann Andreas, son of Aegidius Rother, pastor at Lissa, near Görlitz, in Silesia, was born at Lissa, May 12, 1688. He entered the University of Leipzig in 1708, as a student of Theology, graduated M.A., and was then, in 1712, licensed at Gorlitz as a general preacher. In 1718 he became tutor in the family of Herr von Schweinitz at Leube, a few miles south of Gorlitz, and while there frequently preached in neighbouring churches. During 1722 Count N. L. von Zinzendorf, happening to hear him preach at Gross-Hennersdorf, was greatly pleased with him, and when the pastorate at Berthelsdorf became vacant shortly thereafter, gave him the presentation. He entered on his duties at Berthelsdorf Aug. 30, 1722. There he took a great interest in the Moravian community at Herrnhut, which formed part of his parish. But when, in 1737, he had to report to the higher ecclesiastical authorities regarding the doctrinal views of the Moravians, Zinzendorf showed his resentment in various ways, so that Kothe was glad to accept a call to Hermsdorf, near Gorlitz. Finally, in 1739, Count von Promnitz appointed him assistant pastor at Thommendorf, near Bunzlau, where he became chief pastor in 1742, and died there July 6, 1758. (Koch, v. 240; Wetzel’s Analecta Hymnica, ii. 756, &c.)