Today in 1778 – Friedrich Flemming Born

Friedrich Ferdinand Flemming studied medicine and served as a physician in Berlin until his death. In music, he is chiefly remembered for an 1811 male chorus setting of Horace’s ode Integer Vitae. His one hymn tune, an excellent one now known as Flemming, is adapted from that work. It is used for Elizabeth Charles’s Trinitarian hymn, Praise Ye the Triune God.

Praise ye the Father for His lovingkindness;
Tenderly cares He for His erring children;
Praise Him, ye angels, praise Him in the heavens,
Praise ye Jehovah!

Praise ye the Saviour—great is His compassion;
Graciously cares He for His chosen people;
Young men and maidens, older folks and children,
Praise ye the Saviour!

Praise ye the Spirit, Comforter of Israel,
Sent of the Father and the Son to bless us;
Praise ye the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Praise ye the Triune God!

(2) Today in 1929 – William Edwards Died

Welshman William Edwards is known in hymnody for one contribution only: he has given us an English translation of the insightful Welsh hymn Here Is Love. Edwards was an influential scholar and Baptist layman, and a tutor teaching the Greek language. He translated the New Testament into the Welsh tongue from the original Greek. In politics, he was known as a passionate orator. His voice is stilled on earth now, but consider the powerful ministry he may yet have to those who sing the hymn he has given us.

Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Lovingkindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout heav’n’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

Let me all Thy love accepting,
Love Thee, ever all my days;
Let me seek Thy kingdom only
And my life be to Thy praise;
Thou alone shalt be my glory,
Nothing in the world I see.
Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,
Thou Thyself hast set me free.

(3) (Data Missing) – The Old Book and the Old Faith

This rousing gospel song was written by George H. Carr and published in 1914. Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any more data available on either Mr. Carr or his hymn. But it has a message for our time. In a day when various ones are questioning the truths expressed in the Word of God, it is encouraging to know there are still many who stand upon God’s Word and preach “the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).

’Mid the storms of doubt and unbelief, we fear,
Stands a Book eternal that the saints hold dear;
Through the restless ages it remains the same—
’Tis the Book of God, and the Bible is its name!

The old Book and the old faith
Are the Rock on which I stand!
The old Book and the old faith
Are the bulwark of the land!
Through storm and stress they stand the test
In every clime and nation blessed;
The old Book and the old faith
Are the hope of every land!

’Tis the Book that tells us of the Father’s love,
When He sent His Son to us from heav’n above,
Who by richest promise creates hope within,
For ’tis through His blood we are saved from every sin!

Oh, the grand old Book and the dear old faith
Are the Rock on which I stand!
Oh, the grand old Book and the dear old faith
Are the hope of every land!