Known as the Quaker Poet, John Greenleaf Whittier was an editor, and member of his government as well. He was elected to the Massachusetts legislature (1847-1859), and served as secretary of the American Anti-slavery Society. Though he did not consider himself a hymn writer, almost a hundred hymns have been drawn from his poetry. (See also Today in 1892.) From a poem of 22 stanzas Whittier called The Eternal Goodness, comes a hymn of trust in the Lord called I Know Not What the Future Hath.
I know not what the future hath Of marvel or surprise, Assured alone that life and death God’s mercy underlies.
And if my heart and flesh are weak To bear an untried pain, The bruised reed He will not break, But strengthen and sustain.
(2) Today in 1834 – Marianne Hearn Born
Marianne Hearn was an English author, editor of the Sunday School Times, and on the staff of the Christian World newspaper. In addition, she wrote extensively, publishing 20 volumes of her collected works, often writing under the pen name Mary Anne Farningham. It is said that Hearn was greatly beloved within her Baptist denomination. She wrote a hymn of dedication for the young called Just As I Am Thine Own to Be (not to be confused with Charlotte Elliott’s invitation hymn, Just As I Am).
Just as I am, Thine own to be, Friend of the young, who lovest me, To consecrate myself to Thee, O Jesus Christ, I come.
In the glad morning of my day, My life to give, my vows to pay, With no reserve and no delay, With all my heart I come.
Just as I am, young, strong, and free, To be the best that I can be For truth, and righteousness, and Thee, Lord of my life, I come.
Beethoven stands atop the ranks of great composers, perhaps rivalled only by Johann Sebastian Bach. He was born in Bonn, Germany. A true prodigy, he began working on music at the age of 4, played concerts at the age of 8, and began serious composition at the age of 10. When he was 12, he conducted an opera orchestra. But in spite of this early beginning, his greatest work often took years of struggle to produce.
Beethovan’s religious views are difficult to catagorize. He was baptized and raised a Catholic, but his principle teacher and mentor was a Protestant. Although his beliefs were untraditional and even eccentric, there is no doubt of his devotion to God. He wrote:
Almighty God, You look down into my innermost soul, You see into my heart and You know that it is filled with love for humanity and a desire to do good.
Calmly will I submit myself to all inconsistency and will place all my confidence in Your eternal goodness, O God! My soul shall rejoice in Thee, immutable Being. Be my rock, my light, forever my trust.
Beethoven did not write hymn tunes specifically, but many themes from his compositions have been used as such. The most famous of these comes from his magnificent 9th Symphony, and the Hymn to Joy in the last movement. Henry van Dyke suggested it as the tune for a hymn he wrote in 1907 called Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
(2) Today in 1826 – John Ellerton Born
John Ellerton was a preacher, teacher and author, as well as being a fine hymn writer. He wrote or translated 86 hymns, and as an editor of hymn books and a consultant in the editorial process, he held a prominent place in church music for decades. Interestingly, he refused to copyright his songs, saying that if they were “counted worthy to contribute to Christ’s praise in the congregation, one ought to feel very thankful and humble.” (For more about Ellerton and his hymns, see Today in 1893.)
His wonderful hymn The Day Thou Gavest Lord Is Ended may look from the title as though it was intended as a closing hymn, but it also has a world missions theme. I do not usually give the full text of hymns in these blogs, more often simply providing sample stanzas. However, in this case, we need them all. As Christians we need to sense something of the spreading grandeur of the church of Jesus Christ.
The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended, The darkness falls at Thy behest; To Thee our morning hymns ascended, Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.
We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping, While earth rolls onward into light, Through all the world her watch is keeping, And rests not now by day or night.
As o’er each continent and island The dawn leads on another day, The voice of prayer is never silent, Nor dies the strain of praise away.
The sun that bids us rest is waking Our brethren ’neath the western sky, And hour by hour fresh lips are making Thy wondrous doings heard on high.
So be it, Lord; Thy throne shall never, Like earth’s proud empires, pass away: Thy kingdom stands, and grows forever, Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.
Albert Benjamin Simpson was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada. While attending high school in Chatham, Ontario, he put his faith in Christ. In 1864, he began a successful pastoral ministry at Knox Presbyterian Church, in Hamilton, Ontario (my own home town). He was an eloquent preacher and able leader, and during his eight years there, God used him to add 750 new members to the congregation.
Albert Simpson’s keen interest in world missions, as well as his particular views on sanctification and bodily healing, led him to found the Christian and Missionary Alliance denomination. And although he had no formal musical training, Pastor Simpson had a keen sense of melody and rhythm, and wrote many hymns. Something of his missionary fervour is seen in the hymn, A Missionary Cry:
A hundred thousand souls a day Are passing one by one away In Christless guilt and gloom; Without one ray of hope or light, With future dark as endless night, They’re passing to their doom, They’re passing to their doom.
Other songs from Simpson’s pen are: Yesterday, Today, Forever, What Will You Do with Jesus? and Step by Step. An unusual song called Himself addresses the danger of focusing on the Lord’s blessings rather than on the One who blesses us:
Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord; Once it was the feeling, now it is His Word; Once His gift I wanted, now, the Giver own; Once I sought for healing, now Himself alone.
All in all forever, Jesus will I sing; Everything in Jesus, And Jesus everything.
(2) Today in 1861 – Anna Olander Born
Anna Helena Olander, the daughter of a clergyman, was a Swedish hymn writer. Early in life she started writing poems and stories. She edited nearly 50 books, and also translated hymns into Swedish from English and German, as well as writing some original songs herself.
The only song of hers that is still in use in English is If I Gained the World. It gives us a meditation on the stirring question of Jesus: “What profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt. 16:26).
If I gained the world, but lost the Saviour, Were my life worth living for a day? Could my yearning heart find rest and comfort In the things that soon must pass away? If I gained the world, but lost the Saviour, Would my gain be worth the lifelong strife? Are all earthly pleasures worth comparing For a moment with a Christ-filled life?
O the joy of having all in Jesus! What a balm the broken heart to heal! Ne’er a sin so great, but He’ll forgive it, Nor a sorrow that He does not feel! If I have but Jesus, only Jesus, Nothing else in all the world beside— O then everything is mine in Jesus; For my needs and more He will provide.
(2) Today in 1961 – James Coats Died
James B. Coats was born in 1901, in Summerland, Mississippi. With his innate musical gift, when only fourteen, he was teaching music classes, and serving as a song leader. A public school teacher most of his life, he was also a staff song writer for the Stamps-Baxter Music Company, and a deacon in his home church for about three decades. Mr. Coats wrote many gospel songs, the best known being Where Could I Go But to the Lord?
Living below in this old sinful world, Hardly a comfort can afford; Striving alone to face temptations sore, Where could I go but to the Lord?
Where could I go, O where could I go; Seeking a refuge for my soul? Needing a friend to help me in the end, Where could I go but to the Lord?
It seems like this one is just about everyone’s karaoke favourite. Many, many versions on YouTube. Most of them are mediocre, as far as the performance is concerned. My greater concern and hope is that those who sing this song truly believe its simple message: that the Lord Jesus Christ is the soul’s only true and trustworthy Refuge. The rendition below? Well…It made me smile. 🙂
In a way, the days flow after one another in a regular sequence, and our adherence to a “calendar” is a social convention for convenience sake. January 1st is just another day, like December 31st. But we have accepted the idea that a new year begins each January, and it has become an important time to look back, and look ahead.
Frances Ridley Havergal, the great English hymn writer, used to send New Year’s cards, rather than Christmas cards. And she wrote her own verses to include in them. (Wouldn’t you like to have received one of them?) A couple of these poems have become fine New Year’s hymns. I encourage you to take a look, and perhaps use one or both in a church service this year. Both are excellent. One of these, written in 1873, is Standing at the Portal.
The other, Another Year Is Dawning, is from a card Miss Havergal sent in 1874.
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be In working or in waiting, another year with Thee. Another year of progress, another year of praise, Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.
Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace, Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face; Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast; Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.
Another year of service, of witness for Thy love, Another year of training for holier work above. Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be On earth, or else in heaven, another year for Thee.
It is a bit frustrating, when dealing with gifted writers who have produced many hymns, to try to give an adequate sampling of their work in this kind of blog–abbreviated as it tends to be. Before we leave Miss Havergal, let me add two more songs of hers that have merit: O Saviour, Precious Saviour, and I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus.
O Saviour, precious Saviour, Whom yet unseen we love! O name of might and favour, All other names above! We worship Thee, we bless Thee, To Thee, O Christ, we sing; We praise Thee, and confess Thee Our holy Lord and King.
Then, we have I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, a simple declaration of faith that is said to have been Frances Havergal’s favourite of all the hymns she wrote.
I am trusting Thee, Lord, Jesus, Trusting only Thee; Trusting Thee for full salvation, Great and free.
I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead; Every day and hour supplying All my need.
I am trusting Thee for power, Thine can never fail; Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me Must prevail.
(2) Today in 1891 – Henry Barraclough Born
Henry Barraclough was born in England. For a time he served as the secretary of a British member of Parliament. Then he joined the team of evangelist J. Wilbur Chapman, as their accompanist.
In the summer of 1915, Chapman preached a sermon at a Christian camp in North Carolina. His text was Psalm 45:8, and he showed how the words provide a prophetic picture of Christ. The verse says, “All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad.”
As an aside: There is a historical oddity connected with that verse. In 1879, a man named James Norris Gamble was sitting in church when the passage was read. He thought “ivory” would be a perfect name for a new soap his father, the co-founder of Proctor and Gamble, was about to market. That is how Ivory Soap got its name!
More importantly, the text is a poetic description of a Hebrew king in his resplendence, coming from his palace for his wedding. As he proceeds on his way, the fragrance of his garments is shed abroad. Myrrh and cassia were two of the principle ingredients used for the anointing oil referred to in vs. 7 (cf. Exod. 30:22-25). It was used in inaugurating the priests and kings of Israel. Myrrh and aloes are also mentioned in the marriage preparations of King Solomon (S.S. 4:14).
The spices which perfumed the king’s robes have a connection to the Lord Jesus too. Myrrh was one of the gifts of the wise men brought to the baby Jesus (Matt. 2:11). And myrrh and aloes were used to embalm the body of Christ at His burial (Jn. 19:39). Ps. 45:8 gives us a prophetic picture of the Lord Jesus Christ, coming for His spiritual bride, the church.
Following Chapman’s sermon, his pianist, Henry Barraclough, created a hymn based on the text. It is the only song we have from him.
My Lord has garments so wondrous fine, And myrrh their texture fills; Its fragrance reached to this heart of mine With joy my being thrills.
Out of the ivory palaces, Into a world of woe, Only His great eternal love Made my Saviour go.
His life had also its sorrows sore, For aloes had a part; And when I think of the cross He bore, My eyes with teardrops start.
In garments glorious He will come, To open wide the door; And I shall enter my heav’nly home, To dwell forevermore.
Christian Furchtegott Gellert’s father was a Lutheran pastor. For a time, Christian assisted him. But both physical and emotional maladies forced him to leave the ministry to take up the less demanding role of a private tutor. He also took on a minor post at the University of Leipzig, where he had trained. He lectured on poetry and rhetoric, and taught philosophy, and was apparently very popular with his students. Gellert wrote over 50 hymns, but only a few remain in common use. One is Jesus Lives and So Shall I, published in 1751.
Jesus lives! No longer now Can thy terrors, death, appall us; Jesus lives! By this we know Thou, O grave, canst not enthrall us. Alleluia!
Jesus lives! Henceforth is death But the gate of life immortal; This shall calm our trembling breath, When we pass its gloomy portal. Alleluia!
Jesus lives! Our hearts know well Naught from us His love shall sever; Life, nor death, nor powers of hell Tear us from His keeping ever. Alleluia!
(2) Today in 1823 – William How Born
William Walsham How was a spiritually-minded Anglican clergyman. His son wrote of him:
It is the fate of a hymn writer to be forgotten. Of the millions who Sunday after Sunday sing hymns in our churches, not more than a few hundred know or consider whose words they are singing….Bishop Walsham How was prepared for this. His ambition was not to be remembered, but to be helpful. He gave free liberty to any to make use of his hymns. It was enough for him if he could enlarge the thanksgiving of the church or minister by song to the souls of men.
Few who have sung his hymns would doubt this goal has been achieved. (For more on Bishop How and his hymns, see the second item under Today in 1810.) Of the more than 50 How wrote, several are still in common use:
For All the Saints Jesus, Name of Wondrous Love O Jesus, Thou Art Standing O Word of God Incarnate Soldiers of Christ, Arise We Give Thee but Thine Own
One of Bishop How’s hymns that is rarely used today is Jesus, Name of Wondrous Love. It contains allusions to the angel telling Joseph to name the coming One “Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21), and to Paul’s words, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11).
Jesus! name of wondrous love! Name all other names above! Unto which must every knee Bow in deep humility.
Jesus! name of priceless worth To the fallen sons of earth, For the promise that it gave— “Jesus shall His people save.”
Jesus! Only name that’s given Under all the mighty heaven, Whereby man, to sin enslaved, Bursts his fetters, and is saved.
William Walsham How’s hymn on Christian stewardship issues an important reminder that all that we are and have comes from the Lord in the first place.
We give Thee but Thine own, Whate’er the gift may be; All that we have is Thine alone, A trust, O Lord, from Thee.
May we Thy bounties thus As stewards true receive, And gladly, as Thou blessest us, To Thee our firstfruits give.
In the following brief video clip, the first stanza of the hymn appears to be used as a musical prayer before the receiving of the offering. The other interesting thing here is the projection of the words above the choir. I wonder if that would help a congregation to focus more on the message of the words and less on the quality of the performance. It would certainly assist those who are hard of hearing.
(3) Today in 1847 – Daniel McGregor Born
Daniel Arthur McGregor grew up in rural Ontario with little education beyond his twelfth year. But a keen interest in reading gained him a great breadth of knowledge. Led to Christ at the age of 20 by his oldest brother, McGregor attended a church notable for both the holiness of its members, and their thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. It was said in that community that “every dinner table was a theological class.” (What a blessing!)
After some formal training, Daniel McGregor served as the pastor of several churches. His Christ-centred ministry brought many to the Saviour. During five years in the Ontario town of Stratford, 121 individuals were received into his church upon profession of faith. In 1886 he accepted a teaching position at Toronto Baptist College (associated with McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario). A former student said, “He not only thought out the doctrines upon which he lectured, but he felt their power, and falling tears often evinced his emotion as he spoke of some particular aspect of the truth.”
In 1889 McGregor took over as principal of the school, but he died a year later of tuberculosis of the spine and complications from surgery. It was during his confinement to bed in the autumn months of 1889 that he composed the hymn Jesus, Wondrous Saviour, expressing his deep love for Christ. His family donated the original manuscript of the hymn to the university in 1921 and it became known officially as “The McMaster Hymn.”
Jesus, wondrous Saviour! Christ, of kings the King! Angels fall before Thee, prostrate worshiping; Fairest they confess Thee in the heav’n above. We would sing Thee fairest here in hymns of love.
All earth’s flowing pleasures were a wintry sea, Heav’n itself without Thee dark as night would be. Lamb of God! Thy glory is the light above. Lamb of God! Thy glory is the life of love.
Life is death if severed from Thy throbbing heart. Death with life abundant at Thy touch would start. Worlds and men and angels all consist in Thee: Yet Thou camest to us in humility.
Jesus! All perfections rise and end in Thee; Brightness of God’s glory Thou, eternally, Favoured beyond measure, they Thy face who see; May we gracious Saviour, share this ecstasy.
English hymnist John Cennick was born into a Quaker family. He considered becoming a surveyor but, after meeting John and Charles Wesley, he joined them in their ministry.
In those early days, Charles Wesley assisted him in polishing some of his hymn lyrics. Cennick became a lay preacher and teacher with the Methodists, but he later parted with them on some doctrinal differences. He joined with George Whitefield, and became a deacon in the United Brethren Church. He served the Lord in evangelistic itinerant work in England, Ireland, and Germany.
We have several good hymns from the pen of Mr. Cennick, including: Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending (with a text improved by Charles Wesley), and Children of the Heavenly King.
Children of the heavenly King, As we journey, let us sing; Sing our Saviour’s worthy praise, Glorious in His works and ways
We are traveling home to God, In the way the fathers trod; They are happy now, and we Soon their happiness shall see.
Lord, obediently we go, Gladly leaving all below; Only Thou our Leader be; And we will still follow Thee.
It is also John Cennick we have to thank for the table blessing, Be Present at Our Table, Lord. (The version below is slightly altered from the original, the third line of which begins “Thy creatures bless.”)
Years ago, I sang with a men’s choir. On one occasion, we were on tour, and stopped at a restaurant to eat. Our leader simply sounded a note, and we all joined in singing Cennick’s prayer in four-part harmony. A sure conversation stopper! More recently, I was in a restaurant with some Christian friends, and was asked to say grace. Instead, I suggested we sing. At first, they thought I was kidding, but we did it! Folks seemed to appreciate the unexpected music, and it was a way of witnessing to the Source of all our blessings.
Be present at our table, Lord; Be here and everywhere adored; These mercies bless, and grant that we May feast in paradise with Thee.
Here is a lovely choral version of this hymn by a ladies’ choir. And below is a youth choir singing a different tune, with some changes in the words as well. I’ve included it as an example of singing a blessing before mealtime.
(2) Today in 1805 – Frederic Hedge Born
Frederic Henry Hedge was a pastor and author, who also taught ecclesiastical history and German literature at Harvard University. It is Mr. Hedge who, in 1853, gave us the English translation of Martin Luther’s 1529 hymn, A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, which German poet Heinrich Heine called “the Marseillaise Hymn of the Reformation.”
The term Sabaoth in the second stanza below is a Hebrew word meaning armies, or hosts. Our God is the Lord of Hosts, sovereign Commander of the armies of heaven.
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing; Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same, And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us: The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him who with us sideth: Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His kingdom is forever.
The story of the writing of the lovely Christmas hymn Silent Night is better known than most. Pastor Joseph Mohr wrote the words, and his church organist Franz Gruber composed the tune. The song was written on Christmas Eve morning, and shared with the congregation at a service that evening. But there is some confusion regarding the way the song was shared with the world.
Some accounts of our hymn’s origin speak of a breakdown of the church organ, making it necessary for Gruber to accompany the song with guitar that evening. But the organ malfunction did not likely happen until a year or two after the song was written. It was, however, the organ repairman Fritz Mauracher, who came from over the mountains, heard the song, and shared it with the outside world.
In Mauracher’s hometown lived the Strasser family, who manufactured fine leather gloves. They had trained their children to sing in front of their booth at fairs and festivals, in order to drum up sales. It was the Strasser Sisters Quartet that soon spread the song to town after town. At first, it did not even have a name, but was known simply as a Tiroler Volkslied (a Tyrolean Folk Song). It was published in a German hymnal under the heading, “A Hymn of Unknown Origin.” Now we know it in English as Silent Night. The German original begins:
Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht! Alles schläft, einsam wacht Nur das traute hochheilige Paar, Holder Knabe mit lockigem Haar, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh, Schlaf in himmlischer Ruh.
The familiar translation of the opening stanza reads:
Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and Child. Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.
A quick check shows that Silent Night has been recorded by just about everybody! (And I’m convinced some of them should not have bothered!) But here are two renditions to check out, the first in the original German by the St. Thomas Boys’ Choir, the second in English by the men’s quartet known as G4.
(2) Today in 1845 – The Present Crisis published
James Russell Lowell was a prominent American poet, author, and lawyer. He became Professor of Modern Languages and Literature at Harvard University, edited some prominent journals, and later in his life served as American minister to Spain, and ambassador to England.
In the Boston Courier, Lowell published a long poem called The Present Crisis, protesting America’s war with Mexico. Garrett Horder took some lines from the poem, and arranged them in the form of a hymn. The result was published in 1896. The hymn does not contain much in the way of biblical teaching, but it does emphasize our personal responsibility, as citizens, for the welfare of the country in which we live.
Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide, In the strife of truth with falsehood, for the good or evil side; Some great cause, some great decision, offering each the bloom or blight, And the choice goes by forever, ’twixt that darkness and that light.
Though the cause of evil prosper, yet the truth alone is strong; Though her portion be the scaffold, and upon the throne be wrong; Yet that scaffold sways the future, and behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, keeping watch above His own.
John Zundel was born in Germany and died there, though he spent about three decades in America. A gifted musician, he studied the violin, and later became an organist and a bandmaster. He served as the organist of Plymouth Church, in Brooklyn, for a number of years. The pastor there was the famous preacher Henry Ward Beecher. The two men, along with Dr. Beecher’s brother Charles, produced a hymnal called the Plymouth Collection, in 1855. It was the first major hymn book to have the music on the same page as the text of the hymns.
John Zundel wrote other books on music theory and organ playing as well, but he is best known for one hymn tune. In 1870, Zundel wrote a tune which he named Beecher, in honour of his pastor. It is commonly used with Charles Wesley’s hymn, Love Divine.
Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heav’n to earth come down; Fix in us thy humble dwelling; All thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation; Enter every trembling heart.
(2) Today in 1862 – Henry Nichol Born
Henry Ernest Nichol originally planned to be an engineer. But he switched to a study of music, graduating from Oxford University in 1888 with a Bachelor of Music degree. Most of his hymns were written for the Sunday School.
For many of the songs he wrote both words and music. But in a few older hymnals it may not seem like it. Nichol created a pen name by rearranging the letters of his middle and last name. So you may see H. Ernest Nichol as the composer of the tune, and Colin Sterne as the author of the words, but both are the same man. One of Nichol’s contributions is the missionary hymn, We’ve a Story to Tell.
Above is a picture of our lovely granddaughter Hannah. Her parents are missionaries in Mexico, and Hannah herself seems to have a special gift for making friends with the Mexican children. In her way, she is telling the story too.
We’ve a story to tell to the nations, That shall turn their hearts to the right, A story of truth and mercy, A story of peace and light, A story of peace and light.
For the darkness shall turn to dawning, And the dawning to noonday bright; And Christ’s great kingdom shall come on earth, The kingdom of love and light.
We’ve a message to give to the nations, That the Lord who reigneth above Has sent us His Son to save us, And show us that God is love, And show us that God is love.
Blind English poet John Milton is well known in literature for his epic poem about the fall of man, Paradise Lost. But he has also given us a few hymns. His most familiar, written when he was 15 years old, is Let Us With a Gladsome Mind, a paraphrase of Ps. 136.
Let us, with a gladsome mind, Praise the Lord, for He is kind.
For His mercies aye endure, Ever faithful, ever sure.
The poet also wrote a stirring hymn about the second coming of Christ, The Lord Will Come. The song is based mainly on verses taken from Ps. 82, 85, and 86. Echoing the concern of the Reformation, the Puritans tried to translate the Scriptures from the original languages literally, with as little paraphrasing as possible. For this reason, John Milton placed lines of his second coming hymn in italics, when they were added thoughts not contained in the Bible passage. For example, his original first stanza, now slightly amended, is based on Ps. 85:13. It reads:
Before Him righteousness shall go His royal harbinger, Then will He come, and not be slow His footsteps cannot err.
The hymn speaks of Christ’s coming righteous rule over the earth in the Millennial Kingdom. Twice in Rev. 22, the Lord Jesus says, “Behold, I am coming quickly [meaning either suddenly, or soon]!” (vs. 7, 12). The writer, the Apostle John, catches the spirit of this and says, “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (vs. 20).
The Lord will come and not be slow; His footsteps cannot err; Before Him righteousness shall go, His royal harbinger.
Mercy and truth, that long were missed, Now joyfully are met; Sweet peace and righteousness have kissed, And hand in hand are set.
Rise, God, judge Thou the earth in might, This wicked earth redress; For Thou art He who shalt by right The nations all possess.
(2) Today in 1893 – George Elvey Died
British church musician George Job Elvey provided tunes for a number of our hymns. Diademata is used with Crown Him with Many Crowns, and we sing Come, Ye Thankful People, Come to St. George’s Windsor. Elvey also supplied the tune for a little-known Christmas carol by Archer Thompson Gurney, Come Ye Lofty. (Gurney was an Anglican clergyman and author.) The carol beautifully depicts the condescension of the Son of God in taking on our humanity.
Come, ye lofty, come, ye lowly, Let your songs of gladness ring; In a stable lies the Holy, In a manger rests the King: See in Mary’s arms reposing Christ by highest heav’n adored: Come, your circle round Him closing, Pious hearts that love the Lord.
Come ye poor, no pomp of station Robes the Child your hearts adore; He, the Lord of all salvation, Shares your want, is weak and poor: Oxen, round about behold them; Rafters naked, cold, and bare, See the shepherds, God has told them That the Prince of Life lies there.
Hark the heav’n of heav’ns is ringing: Christ the Lord to man is born! Are not all our hearts, too, singing, Welcome, welcome, Christmas morn? Still the Child, all power possessing, Smiles as through the ages past; And the song of Christmas blessing Sweetly sinks to rest at last.
Martin Rinkart was a pastor whose parish gave him a unique opportunity for ministry. He served the Lutheran church in Eilenberg, Germany, during the Thirty Years War, beginning his work there just before the conflict started.
Eilenberg had the mixed blessing of being a walled city. Its protective fortress was sought out as a safe haven by the hundreds of war refugees who poured into it. But it was also looked upon as a coveted prize of war. Over the years, it was overrun by the Austrian army once, and by the Swedish army twice. In the process, eight hundred homes were demolished. Meanwhile, the increasingly overcrowded conditions brought waves of famine and deadly pestilence.
The death toll was staggering. Soon, Pastor Rinkart was the only clergyman left alive in the city. He conducted an average of fifteen funerals a day, sometimes as many as fifty. He opened his home as a refugee centre, sharing what he had, though it was difficult enough just to provide for his own family. In addition, he carried on other pastoral work, and still found time to write some sixty-six hymns. Sadly, the stress of overwork took its toll and Rinkart died a year after the conflict ended.
Even so, through all the horrors of war, and the strain of dealing with destitute and grieving families, the good pastor never lost his spiritual moorings. He maintained a strong faith in God, and radiated the joy of the Lord. As a table grace for his children, he wrote a hymn based on a verse from the apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus (not to be confused with the Bible book of Ecclesiastes). It says:
Now bless ye the God of all, who everywhere doeth great things, who exalteth our days from the womb, and dealeth with us according to His mercy. May He grant us joyful hearts, and may peace be in our days forever” (50:22).
Pastor Rinkart’s praise hymn was called Nun Danket Alle Gott, or as we know it in English, Now Thank We All Our God.
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things has done, in whom this world rejoices; Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us, With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us; And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed; And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!
(2) Today in 1929 – Edwin Ufford Died
Edwin Smith Ufford was a Baptist pastor, known in hymn history mainly for the hymn Throw Out the Lifeline. It uses the rescue of sailors on the storm-tossed sea as an illustration of the spiritual rescue that is possible through the proclamation of the gospel. The song, written in only 15 minutes, has several more stanzas than are usually found in our hymn books. Here are a couple of the unused stanzas:
This is the life line, oh, tempest tossed men; Baffled by waves of temptation and sin; Wild winds of passion, your strength cannot brave, But Jesus is mighty, and Jesus can save.
Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line! Someone is drifting away; Throw out the life line! Throw out the life line! Someone is sinking today.
Jesus is able! To you who are driv’n, Farther and farther from God and from heav’n; Helpless and hopeless, o’erwhelmed by the wave; We throw out the life line, ’tis “Jesus can save.”
