Weekly Hymn

I can't remember when we last had a weekly hymn but in Kenya this hymn by Jane Crewdson caught my eye:

Lord, we know that Thou art near us,

Though Thou seem’st to hide Thy face;

And are sure that Thou dost hear us,

Though no answer we embrace.

Not one promise shall miscarry

Not one blessing come too late

Though the vision long may tarry

Give us patience, Lord to wait.

While withholding—Thou art giving

In Thine own appointed way

And while waiting we’re receiving

Blessings suited to our day.

O the wondrous loving-kindness

Planning, working out of sight,

Bearing with us in our blindness,

Out of darkness bringing light.

Weaving blessings out of trials,

Out of grief evolving bliss;

Answering prayer by wise denials

When Thy children ask amiss.

And when faith shall end in vision,

And when prayer is lost in praise,

Then shall love, in full fruition,

Justify Thy secret ways.

According to Wikipedia Crewdson lived 1808-1863 and was a poet born in Perran-arworthal, Cornwall. She was the second daughter of one George Fox. She was married at Exeter, in October 1836, to Thomas Dillworth Crewdson, a Manchester manufacturer. She contributed several hymns to Lovell Squire's Selection of Scriptural Poetry, 1848; and in 1851 published a small volume of poems, entitled Aunt Jane's Verses for Children, which was twice reprinted (1855, 1871). In 1860 she issued a second work, Lays of the Reformation, and other Lyrics, scriptural and Miscellaneous. After her death at Summerlands, Whalley Range, Manchester, a further selection of her poetical pieces was published under the title of A Little While and other Poems (Manchester, 1864). (The cyberhymnal lists 13 of her hymns with words available to several).

Hymn of the week 38

We enjoyed singing new year hymns again yesterday. I mentioned a Doddridge hymn this time last year. See here. We enjoyed singing it again and this other one by the same man.

Our Helper, God, we bless Thy Name,
Whose love forever is the same;
The tokens of Whose gracious care
Begin and crown and close the year.

Amid ten thousand snares we stand,
Supported by Thy guardian hand;
And see, when we review our ways,
Ten thousand monuments of praise.

Thus far Thine arm has led us on;
Thus far we make Thy mercy known;
And while we tread this desert land,
New mercies shall new songs demand.

Our grateful souls on Jordan’s shore
Shall raise one sacred pillar more,
Then bear, in Thy bright courts above,
Inscriptions of immortal love.

Hymn of the Week 37

On Sunday we sang two hymns by the 18th Century Baptist Samuel Stennett. We'd not sung either of them before. See more here . The versions in the new Christian Hymns are slightly different to these.

Come, every pious heart,
That loves the Saviour’s Name,
Your noblest powers exert
To celebrate His fame;
Tell all above, and all below;
That debt of love to Him you owe.

He left His starry crown,
And laid His robes aside;
On wings of love came down,
And wept, and bled, and died:
What He endured, O who can tell,
To save our souls from death and hell!

From the dark grave He rose;
The mansions of the dead,
And thence His mighty foes
In glorious triumph led;
Up through the sky the Conqueror rode;
And reigns on High, the Savior God.

From thence He’ll quickly come,
His chariot will not stay,
And bear our spirits home
To realms of endless day;
There shall we see His lovely face
And ever be in His embrace.

Jesus, we ne’er can pay
The debt we owe Thy love;
Yet tell us how we may
Our gratitude approve;
Our hearts, our all to Thee we give;
The gift, though small, Thou wilt receive.

Majestic sweetness sits enthroned
Upon the Saviour’s brow;
His head with radiant glories crowned,
His lips with grace o’erflow.

To Christ, the Lord, let every tongue
Its noblest tribute bring
When He’s the subject of the song,
Who can refuse to sing?

Survey the beauties of His face,
And on His glories dwell;
Think of the wonders of His grace,
And all His triumphs tell.

No mortal can with Him compare
Among the sons of men;
Fairer is He than all the fair
Who fill the heav’nly train.

He saw me plunged in deep distress
And flew to my relief;
For me He bore the shameful cross
And carried all my grief.

His hand a thousand blessings pours
Upon my guilty head:
His presence gilds my darkest hours,
And guards my sleeping bed.

To Him I owe my life and breath
And all the joys I have;
He makes me triumph over death
And saves me from the grave.

To Heav’n, the place of His abode,
He brings my weary feet;
Shows me the glories of my God,
And makes my joys complete.

Since from His bounty I receive
Such proofs of love divine,
Had I a thousand hearts to give,
Lord, they should all be Thine.

Hymn of the week 36

I enjoyed singing this (to me unfamiliar) Toplady hymn yesterday. See here.

From whence this fear and unbelief?
Hath not the Father put to grief
His spotless Son for me?
And will the righteous Judge of men,
Condemn me for that debt of sin,
Which, Lord, was charged on Thee?

Complete atonement Thou hast made,
And to the utmost farthing paid
Whate'er Thy people owed:
Nor can His wrath on me take place,
If sheltered in Thy righteousness,
And sprinkled with Thy blood.

If Thou hast my discharge procured,
And freely in my room endured
The whole of wrath divine:
Payment God cannot twice demand,
First at my wounded Surety's hand,
And then again at mine.

Turn then, My soul, unto thy rest;
The merits of thy great High Priest
Have bought thy liberty:
Trust in His effective blood,
Nor fear thy banishment from God,
Since Jesus died for thee.

Hymn of the week 35

It can't be possible but we sang this Charles Wesley hymn today and I feel like I've never sung it. Perhaps the tune threw me. It's great. We didn't sing verse 3 - we were singing from Grace Hymns and yes it comes back to me now. That verse is missing because it is strictly speaking incorrect - Jesus's wounds are not bleeding now. (Couldn't they change it to glorious or something?)

Arise, my soul, arise, shake off your guilty fears;
The bleeding sacrifice, in my behalf appears;
Before the throne my Surety stands,
Before the throne my Surety stands,
My name is written on His hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede;
His all redeeming love, His precious blood, to plead;
His blood atoned for every race,
His blood atoned for every race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds He bears; received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers; they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die!”

The Father hears Him pray, His dear anointed One;
He cannot turn away the presence of His Son;
The Spirit answers to the blood,
The Spirit answers to the blood
And tells me I am born of God.

My God is reconciled; His pardoning voice I hear;
He owns me for His child; I can no longer fear
With confidence I now draw nigh,
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba, Father,” cry.

Hymn of the week 34

Isaac Watts

So let our lips and lives express
The holy gospel we profess;
So let our works and virtues shine,
To prove the doctrine all divine.

Thus shall we best proclaim abroad
The honours of our Saviour God;
When the salvation reigns within,
And grace subdues the power of sin.

Our flesh and sense must be denied,
Passion and envy, lust and pride;
While justice, temp'rance, truth, and love,
Our inward piety approve.

Religion bears our spirits up,
While we expect that blessed hope,
The bright appearance of the Lord,
And faith stands leaning on his Word.

Hymn of the Week 33

We haven't had one of these for a while. We sang this fine hymn by John Fawcett last Sunday. I liked the final verse in particular.

1. How precious is the Book Divine,
By inspiration given!
Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine
To guide our souls to heaven.

2. It's light, descending from above
Our gloomy world to cheer,
Displays a Saviour's boundless love
And brings his glories near.

3. It shows to man his wandering ways
And where his feet have trod,
And brings to view the matchless grace
Of a forgiving God.

4. O'er all the straight and narrow way
Its radiant beams are cast;
A light whose never weary ray
Grows brightest at the last.

5. It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts
In this dark vale of tears,
Life, light, and joy it still imparts
And quells our rising fears.

6. This lamp through all the tedious night
Of life shall guide our way
Till we behold the clearer light
Of an eternal day.

Hymn of the Week 32

We sang this fairly familiar 1736 Doddridge hymn on Sunday evening and it lingers in my mind. The amazing tune helps but it is the words that make it. Someone told me it was Dr Lloyd-Jones's favourite. I wonder if they know about it in health and wealth circles? Watson calls it an interesting exercise in Puritan covenant theology.

O God of Bethel, by Whose hand
Thy people still are fed,
Who through this weary pilgrimage
Hast all our fathers led.

Our vows, our prayers, we now present
Before Thy throne of grace;
God of our fathers, be the God
Of their succeeding race.

Through each perplexing path of life
Our wandering footsteps guide;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.

O spread Thy covering wings around
Till all our wanderings cease,
And at our Father’s loved abode
Our souls arrive in peace.

Such blessings from Thy gracious hand
Our humble prayers implore;
And Thou shalt be our chosen God,
And portion evermore.

Hymn of the week 31

We sang this on Sunday evening. So powerful. Like most we began with the second verse. We don't have verse 5 in New Christian Hymns either.

1 WEARY of wandering from my God,
And now made willing to return,
I hear, and bow me to the rod;
For thee, not without hope, I mourn;
I have an Advocate above,
A Friend before the throne of Love.

2 O Jesus, full of truth and grace,
More full of grace than I of sin,
Yet once again I seek thy face;
Open thine arms, and take me in,
And freely my backslidings heal,
And love the faithless sinner still.

3 Thou know'st the way to bring me back
My fallen spirit to restore;
O! for thy truth and mercy's sake,
Forgive, and bid me sin no more;
The ruins of my soul repair,
And make my heart a house of prayer.

4 The stone to flesh again convert,
The veil of sin again remove;
Sprinkle thy blood upon my heart,
And melt it by thy dying love;
This rebel heart by love subdue,
And make it soft, and make it new.

5 Give to mine eyes refreshing tears,
And kindle my relentings now;
Fill my whole soul with filial fears,
To thy sweet yoke my spirit bow;
Bend by thy grace, O bend or break,
The iron sinew in my neck!

6 Ah! give me, Lord, the tender heart
That trembles at the approach of sin;
A godly fear of sin impart,
Implant, and root it deep within,
That I may dread thy gracious power,
And never dare to offend thee more.

Hymn of the week 30

This is one of two Doddridge hymns for the new year in New Christian Hymns that we sang yesterday,

Great God, we sing Your mighty hand
By which supported still we stand;
The opening year Your mercy shows,
That mercy crowns it ’til its close.

By day, by night, at home, abroad,
Still are we guarded by our God,
By His incessant bounty fed,
By His unerring counsel led.

With grateful hearts the past we own;
The future, all to us unknown,
We to Thy guardian care commit,
And peaceful leave before Thy feet.

In scenes exalted or depressed,
You are our joy, and You our rest;
Your goodness all our hopes shall raise,
Adored through all our changing days.

When death shall interrupt our songs
And seal in silence mortal tongues,
In fairer realms, O God, shall we
Your praises sing eternally.

Hymn of the week 29

It's quite a while since we had one of these. I went looking for this hymn for Sunday in New Christian Hymns and found it wasn't there. It is in Grace. Written by one Richard Lee, it doesn't seem to be very well known.

Far beyond all comprehension
Is Jehovah's covenant love;
Who can fathom its dimension
Or its unknown limits prove?

Ere the earth upon its basis
By creating power was built,
His designs were wise and gracious
For removing human guilt.

He displayed His grand intention
On the mount at Calvary,
When He died for our redemption,
Lifted high upon the tree.

O, how sweet to view the flowing
Of His soul-redeeming blood!
With divine assurance knowing
That it made my peace with God.

Freely Thou wilt bring to heaven
All Thy chosen, ransomed race,
Who to Thee, their Head, were given
In the covenant of grace.

Hymn of the week 28

We usually sing a children's hymn on Sunday mornings. Yesterday it was this hymn by Ann Gilbert (1782-1866). Born Ann Taylor, her elder sister Jane was the better known. (For another article on hymn writing sisters, see here). Their mother Ann also wrote. More here and here.

Jesus, who lived above the sky,
Came down to be a man and die;
And in the Bible we may see
How very good He used to be.

He went about, He was so kind,
To cure poor people who were blind,
And many who were sick and lame,
He pitied them, and did the same.

And, more than that, He told them too
The things that God would have them do;
And was so gentle and so mild,
He would have listened to a child.

But such a cruel death He died!
He was hung up and crucified!
And those kind hands that did such good,
They nailed them to a cross of wood!

And so He died ! — and this is why
He came to be a man and die:
The Bible says He came from Heaven,
That we might have our sins forgiven.

He knew how wicked man had been,
He knew that God must punish sin;
So out of pity Jesus said
He'd bear the punishment instead.

Hymn of the week 27

We haven't had one of these for a while but this is good, especially the fourth verse. Samuel Medley (1738-1799) was a Baptist minister. After a false start as an apprentice, he joined the Roy­al Navy, becoming a midshipman in 1755. He was wound­ed in bat­tle off Port La­gos in 1759 and dur­ing his re­cup­er­at­ion read a ser­mon byIsaac Watts that led to his con­ver­sion. He then left the navy and studied for the min­is­try under Dr Gifford in Lon­don. In 1767, he be­came pas­tor at the Baptist church in Wat­ford. In 1772, he be­gan his min­is­try at Byron Street, Liv­er­pool. Several of his hymns are still sung today.

Awake, my soul, to joyful lays,
And sing thy great Redeemer’s praise;
He justly claims a song from me -
His lovingkindness, O how free!

He saw me ruined in the fall,
Yet loved me notwithstanding all;
He saved me from my lost estate -
His lovingkindness, O how great!

Though numerous hosts of mighty foes,
Though earth and hell my way oppose,
He safely leads my soul along -
His lovingkindness, O how strong!

When trouble, like a gloomy cloud,
Has gathered thick and thundered loud,
He near my soul has always stood -
His lovingkindness, O how good!

Often I feel my sinful heart
Prone from my Jesus to depart;
But though I have him oft forgot,
His lovingkindness changes not.

Soon I shall pass the gloomy vale,
Soon all my mortal powers must fail;
O! may my last expiring breath
His lovingkindness sing in death.

Then let me mount and soar away
To the bright world of endless day;
And sing with raptures and surprise,
His lovingkindness in the skies.

Hymn of the week 26

We haven't had this feature for a little while but I so enjoyed singing Joseph Hart's hymn yesterday that I wanted to put it here in case anyone doesn't know it. Previously it was in Grace Hymns and not in Christian Hymns. Chiefly for this reason my father-in-law would always choose it for the services on the weekend before the Aber conference, knowing he wasn't choosing something people would be singing again that week. In this way the hymn was brought to many people's attention and now features in the new Christian Hymns. They didn't like one or two things for some reason and have changed them. This is the original:

A Man there is, a real Man,
With Wounds still gaping wide,
From which streams of Blood once ran
In hands, and feet, and side.

'Tis no wild Fancy of our Brains,
No Metaphor we speak:
The same dear Man in Heav'n now reigns,
That suffer'd for our sake.

This wond'rous Man, of whom we tell,
Is true Almighty God.
He bought our souls from death and hell;
The price his own heart's blood.

That human heart he still retains,
Tho' thron'd in highest bliss;
And feels each tempted
Member's pains: for our affliction's his.

Come then, repenting sinner, come;
Approach with humble faith:
Owe what thou wilt, the total sum,
Is cancell'd by his death.

His blood can cleanse the blackest soul;
And wash our guilt away,
He shall present us sound and whole
In that tremendous day.

Hymn of the week 25

This hymn by Thomas Kelly (1769-1855) and Irish dissenter is not very well known except for the final verse.

Praise the Saviour, ye who know Him!
Who can tell how much we owe Him?
Gladly let us render to Him
All we are and have.

Jesus is the Name that charms us,
He for conflict fits and arms us;
Nothing moves and nothing harms us
While we trust in Him.

Trust in Him, ye saints, forever,
He is faithful, changing never;
Neither force nor guile can sever
Those He loves from Him.

Keep us, Lord, O keep us cleaving
To Thyself, and still believing,
Till the hour of our receiving
Promised joys with Thee.

Then we shall be where we would be,
Then we shall be what we should be,
Things that are not now, nor could be,
Soon shall be our own.

Hymn of the week 24

Mighty Christ from time eternal,
Mighty, He man's nature takes,
Mighty, when on Calv'ry dying
Mighty, death itself He breaks.
See His might,
Infinite,
King of heaven and earth by right!

Mighty was He in heaven's purpose,
Mighty, in the pledge to save,
Mighty, from His birth to Calv'ry,
Mighty, bursting from the grave.
Still will He
Mighty be
When things hidden now we see.

Great my Jesus in His Person,
Great as God and man is He,
Great His comeliness and beauty,
White and ruddy, fair to see.
Great that sight,
Sovereign Might,
Throned secure on heaven's height!

Translated from the Welsh of Titus Lewis and an anonymous writer (verse 2) by Graham Harrison.

Hymn of the week 23

This is by William Cowper

Heal us, Immanuel! Hear our prayer,
We wait to feel Thy touch:
Deep-wounded souls to Thee repair
And, Saviour, we are such.

Our faith is feeble, we confess,
We faintly trust Thy word;
But wilt Thou pity us the less?
Be that far from Thee, Lord!

Remember him who once applied,
With trembling, for relief;
"Lord, I believe," with tears he cried,
"Oh, help my unbelief!"

She too, who touch'd Thee in the press,
And healing virtue stole,
Was answer'd, "Daughter, go in peace,
Thy faith hath made thee whole."

Like her, with hopes and fears we come
She would have shunn'd Thy view;
And if her faith was firm and strong,
Had strong misgivings too.

Like her, with hopes and fears we come,
To touch Thee, if we may;
Oh! send us not despairing home,
Send none unheal'd away!

Hymn of the week 22

This anonymous hymn was translated from Latin by J M Neale in the 19th Century

To the Name of our salvation,
laud and honor let us pay,
which for many a generation
hid in God's foreknowledge lay;
but with holy exultation
we may sing aloud today.

Jesus is the Name we treasure;
Name beyond what words can tell;
Name of gladness, Name of pleasure,
ear and heart delighting well;
Name of sweetness, passing measure,
saving us from sin and hell.

'Tis the Name for adoration,
Name for songs of victory,
Name for holy meditation
in this vale of misery,
Name for joyful veneration
by the citizens on high.

'Tis the Name that whoso preacheth
speaks like music to the ear;
who in prayer this Name beseecheth
sweetest comfort findeth near;
who its perfect wisdom reacheth,
heavenly joy possesseth here.

Jesus is the Name exalted
over every other name;
in this Name, whene'er assaulted,
we can put our foes to shame;
strength to them who else had halted,
eyes to blind, and feet to lame.

Therefore we in love adoring,
this most blessèd Name revere;
holy Jesus, thee imploring
so to write it in us here,
that hereafter, heavenward soaring,
we may sing with angels there.

Hymn of the week 21

This is a hymn by Gerhard Tersteegen (1697-1769) that we sang at the Lord's Table yesterday. It was translated by Samuel Jackson (1786-1861). For something on Tersteegen see here on this blog.

Though all the world my choice deride,
Yet Jesus shall my portion be;
For I am pleased with none beside;
The fairest of the fair is he.

Sweet is the vision of thy face,
And kindness o'er thy lips is shed;
Lovely art thou, and full of grace,
And glory beams around thy head.

Thy suff'rings I embrace with thee,
Thy poverty and shameful cross;
The pleasure of the world I flee,
And deem its treasures only dross.

Be daily dearer to my heart,
And ever let me feel thee near;
Then willingly with all I'd part,
Nor count it worthy of a tear.

O keep my heart and love with thee

until my mortal work is done;

and then in heaven thy face I'll see,

to be with thee for ever one!

Hymn of the week 20

We've been singing second advent as well as advent hymns recenty. Here's one - by Henry Alford 1810-1871. Alford was both an Anglican minister and a Greek scholar. More here.

Ten thousand times ten thousand in sparkling raiment bright,
The armies of the ransomed saints throng up the steeps of light;
’Tis finished, all is finished, their fight with death and sin;
Fling open wide the golden gates, and let the victors in.

What rush of alleluias fills all the earth and sky!
What ringing of a thousand harps bespeaks the triumph nigh!
O day, for which creation and all its tribes were made;
O joy, for all its former woes a thousandfold repaid!

O then what raptured greetings on Canaan’s happy shore;
What knitting severed friendships up, where partings are no more!
Then eyes with joy shall sparkle, that brimmed with tears of late;
Orphans no longer fatherless, nor widows desolate.

Bring near Thy great salvation, Thou Lamb for sinners slain;
Fill up the roll of Thine elect, then take Thy power, and reign;
Appear, Desire of nations, Thine exiles long for home;
Show in the heaven Thy promised sign; Thou Prince and Savior, come.