The sons of God believe it right

I found the Long Meter hymn (below) as Number 464 in The Christian Hymnary. The words are by John Winebrenner, altered by John J. Overholt, 1970. Overholt was the editor/compiler of The Christian Hymnary. In Winebrenner’s hymnbook, it was hymn No. 299, with the heading “I have given you an example,” referenced to John 13:15.

1. The sons of God believe it right,
To think and do as Jesus bade;
When on that dark and doleful night
He gave his law and plainly said:

2. Mark the example which I give
And keep it; show your mutual love;
My precepts do and you shall live
In bliss below and heaven above.

3. My brethren, do we love the Lord?
And are we bound in union yet?
If so, like Jesus let us bow,
And let us wash each other’s feet.

4. Now, Lord, we’ll wash thy people’s feet,
And here enjoy their fond embrace;
Each with a kiss of friendship greet,
And love in love to see they face.

Differences in the original and the alteration by Overholt include:

The first line of the first stanza was: “The Church of God believes it right.”

The first two lines of the 3rd stanza were: “Then do you love our brethren now? And are we bound in union sweet? ”

The fourth and six stanzas are omitted:

4. Let no one be ashamed of this—

Or, Peter-like, turn, and say, no;

But as we aim for heav’nly bliss,

We’ll in our Master’s footsteps go.

6. and then we’ll feast on heav’nly love, 

And find our joys to be complete:

Yes, then we’ll sing thy praise above,

And bow, with angels, at thy feet.

This hymn is often sung to the tune Retreat by Thomas Hastings.