The Heavenly Contention - Ingalls, Jeremiah

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"Tune is apparently derived from earlier instrumental music of some kind (Jackson 1952, no. 118). Words by Ralph Erskine, attributed to him by several authors, such as ''The Life and Diary of the Rev. Ralph Erskine'', Donald Fraser, 1834. American collections have as many as 24 stanzas. Ingalls selected sixteen of them (apparently from ''A Choice Collection of Hymns, in which are Some Never Before Printed'', Philadelphia, 1782), and used groups of four stanzas in his work."

⌛ Period → Classical ◈ Genre → Set pieces

♯ Key D major

⁄ Time Signature 2/4

♬ Voicing → STB

◆ Difficulty

Beginner

↕ Range A2 – A5

¶ Language → English

Measures 39

Texture mixed texture

Parts 4

Instruments A cappella

Pages 2

CPDL # 44111

Editor Barry Johnston

Posted 2017-04-19

License Public Domain

♫Pitch Ranges

Tr.

F#4 – A5

D3 – A4

A2 – D4

¶Lyrics / Text

'''A Choice Collection of Hymns''' '''(Philadelphia, 1782) 88. 88. (L. M.)''' 1. In heavenly choirs a question rose That stirred up strife will never close, What rank of all the ransomed race, Owes highest praise to sovereign grace? 2. Babes thither caught from womb and breast, Claimed right to sing above the rest; Because they found the happy shore They never saw or sought before. 3. Those that arrived at riper age, Before they left the dusky stage, Thought grace deserved yet higher praise, That washed the blots of numerous days. 4. Anon, the war more close began, What praising harp should lead the van: And which of grace's heavenly peers Was deepest run in her arrears. 5. Tis I, said one, ’bove all my race, Am debtor chief to glorious grace, Nay, said another, hark, I trow , I'm more obliged to grace than you. 6. Stay, said a third, I deepest share In owing praise beyond compare; The chief of sinners, you’ll allow, Must be the chief of singers now. 7. Hold, said a fourth, I here protest, My praise must outvie the rest; For I’m of all the human race The highest miracle of grace. 8. Stop, said a fifth, these notes forbear, Lo, I’m the greatest wonder here; For I, of all the race that fell, Deserved the lowest place in hell. 9. A soul that higher yet aspired With equal love to Jesus fired, Tis mine to sing the highest notes To love, that washed the foulest blots. 10. Ho! cried a mate, tis mine, I'll prove Who sinned in spite of light and love, To sound his praise with loudest bell, That saved me from the lowest hell. 11. Come, come, said one, I'll hold the plea That highest praise is due by me; For mine of all the saved by grace Was the most dreadful, desperate case. 12. Another, rising at his side, As fond to praise, and free of pride, Cried, pray give peace, for I defy That you should owe more praise than I.