HymnPod

The author of this hymn was totally blind. Notice the reference to words about light. According to 101 Hymn Stories, there is a story that Matheson was rejected by his fiancee because of his total blindness. You can get a copy of 101 Hymn Stories from Amazon, just click on the link on the sidebar on my website.

Lyrics: George Matheson
Music: Albert L Peace

O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that foll’west all my way,
I yield my flick’ring torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be.

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This is a charming hymn often sung during Sunday School. I wonder if there are any more hymns with melodies from India.

The world famous chorus ‘I have decided to follow Jesus’ was composed by a Garo Christian (a tribe in the North-Eastern part of India) probably during the early part of Christianity of the tribe (late 1800AD) when the American Baptist Missionaries were involved with the tribe. The tune naturally suits the Garo cultural ethos and taste. But the composer is still unknown.

Lyrics: Attributed to an Indian prince
Music: Folk melody from India, arr by Norman Johnson

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;
No turning back, no turning back.

Though no one join me, still I will follow;
Though no one join me, still I will follow;
Though no one join me, still I will follow;
No turning back, no turning back.

The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
No turning back, no turning back.

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This hymn is attributed to Dorothy A Thrupp. Daughter of Jo­seph Thrupp of Pad­ding­ton Green, Dor­o­thy’s hymns ap­peared in the Friend­ly Vis­it­or and the Child­ren’s Friend, by Rev. W. Car­us Wil­son; in the Se­lection of Hymns and Po­e­try for the Use of In­fant Schools and Nur­ser­ies, by Mrs. Her­bert Mayo, 1838; and in her Hymns for the Young (1836). In 1836 and 1837 Dor­o­thy al­so pub­lished Thoughts for the Day, in which she em­bo­died ma­ny hymns which pre­vi­ous­ly ap­peared in the Friend­ly Vis­it­or.

Do leave a comment if you like this hymn. It is one of my favourites. It is almost like a lullaby.

Lyrics: Dorothy A Thrupp
Music: William B Bradbury

Savior, like a shepherd lead us,
much we need thy tender care;
in thy pleasant pastures feed us,
for our use thy folds prepare.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast bought us, thine we are.

We are thine, thou dost befriend us,
be the guardian of our way;
keep thy flock, from sin defend us,
seek us when we go astray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Hear, O hear us when we pray.

Thou hast promised to receive us,
poor and sinful though we be;
thou hast mercy to relieve us,
grace to cleanse and power to free.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to thee.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
We will early turn to thee.

Early let us seek thy favor,
early let us do thy will;
blessed Lord and only Savior,
with thy love our bosoms fill.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.
Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus!
Thou hast loved us, love us still.

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Alex­and­er’s hus­band was Will­iam Alex­an­der, bi­shop of Der­ry and Ra­phoe, and lat­er the An­gli­can pri­mate for Ire­land. Ce­cil and her sis­ter found­ed a school for the deaf, and she set up the Girls’ Friend­ly So­ci­e­ty in Lon­don­der­ry. Ce­cil Al­ex­and­er wrote about 400 hymns in her life­time.

Life can be tumultuous at time, but the Lord Jesus calls us to Him where there is peace and rest. Amen.

Lyrics: Cecil F Alexander
Music: William H Jude

Jesus calls us over the tumult
Of our life’s wild, restless, sea;
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, “Christian, follow Me!”

Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, “Christian, love Me more!”

In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love Me more than these!”

Jesus calls us! By Thy mercies,
Savior, may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thine obedience,
Serve and love Thee best of all.

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Chapman grad­u­at­ed from Lake For­est Un­i­ver­si­ty in 1879 and Lane Sem­in­ary, Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio, in 1882. Or­dained a Pres­by­ter­ian min­is­ter, his first pas­tor­ate was split be­tween two church­es-in Lib­er­ty, In­di­a­na, and Coll­ege Cor­ner, Ohio. In 1883 he be­came the min­is­ter of the Old Sar­a­toga Dutch Re­formed Church in Schuy­ler­ville, New York. In 1885, he moved to the First Re­formed Church in Al­ba­ny, New York, and in 1890 to the Beth­a­ny Pres­by­ter­ian Church in Phil­a­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia. He was one of the found­ers of the Wi­no­na Lake Bi­ble Con­fer­ence and, in 1900, tra­veled to the Ho­ly Land.

Lyrics: J Wilbur Chapman
Music: Rowland W Prichard

Jesus! what a Friend for sinners!
Jesus! Lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior, makes me whole.

Refrain:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Hallelujah! what a Friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end.

Jesus! what a Strength in weakness!
Let me hide myself in Him.
Tempted, tried, and sometimes failing,
He, my Strength, my victory wins.

Jesus! what a Help in sorrow!
While the billows over me roll,
Even when my heart is breaking,
He, my Comfort, helps my soul.

Jesus! what a Guide and Keeper!
While the tempest still is high,
Storms about me, night overtakes me,
He, my Pilot, hears my cry.

Jesus! I do now receive Him,
More than all in Him I find.
He hath granted me forgiveness,
I am His, and He is mine.

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Still on the topic of Jesus as our friend, here is a lovely, lively hymn which is one of my favourites.

James Small at­tend­ed the Un­i­ver­si­ty of Ed­in­burgh, stu­died di­vin­i­ty und­er Dr. Chalmers, and in 1834 joined the Free Church of Scot­land. In 1847 he be­came min­is­ter of the Free Church at Ber­vie, near Mont­rose.

Lyrics: James G Small
Music: George C Stebbins

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend!
He loved me ere I knew Him;
He drew me with the cords of love,
And thus He bound me to Him.
And round my heart still closely twine
Those ties which naught can sever,
For I am His, and He is mine,
Forever and forever.

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend!
He bled, He died to save me;
And not alone the gift of life,
But His own Self He gave me!
Naught that I have mine own I call,
I’ll hold it for the Giver,
My heart, my strength, my life, my all
Are His, and His forever.

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend!
All pow’r to Him is given,
To guard me on my onward course,
And bring me safe to heaven.
Th’ eternal glories gleam afar,
To nerve my faint endeavor;
So now to watch, to work, to war,
And then to rest forever.

I’ve found a Friend, oh, such a friend!
So kind and true and tender,
So wise a Counselor and Guide,
So mighty a Defender!
From Him who loves me now so well
What pow’r my soul can sever?
Shall life or death, shall earth or hell?
No! I am His forever.

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Lyrics: Joseph Scriven
Music: Charles C Converse

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus” is a Christian hymn originally written by Joseph M. Scriven as a poem in 1855 to comfort his mother who was living in Ireland while he was in Canada. Scriven originally published the poem anonymously, and only received full credit for it in the 1880s.[1] The tune to the hymn was composed by Charles Crozat Converse in 1868.

The Lord Jesus is our greatest friend in time of need. Jn 15:4 says that “Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you”. May we always seek to do the Lord’s will.

This hymn is an old one but a very good one.

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged-
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge-
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
Thou wilt find a solace there.

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Lyrics: Fanny J Crosby
Music: William H Doanne

Fanny Crosby was one of the most prolific hymnists in history – more than 8,000 hymns. She wrote “Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross” in 1869.

No hymn collection would be complete without this classic hymn by Fanny Crosby.

Jesus, keep me near the cross,
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Refrain:
In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever;
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day,
With its shadows o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand,
Just beyond the river.

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Hart­sough wrote this song at a re­viv­al meet­ing in Ep­worth, Io­wa.

Ira Sankey recounts: “The words and mu­sic of this beau­ti­ful hymn were first pub­lished in a month­ly, en­ti­tled, Guide to Ho­li­ness, a co­py of which was sent to me in Eng­land. I im­me­di­ate­ly adopt­ed it, and had it pub­lished in Sac­red Songs and So­los. It proved to be one of the most help­ful of the re­viv­al hymns, and was oft­en used as an in­vi­ta­tion hymn in Eng­land and Amer­i­ca.”

We sang this hymn last Sunday. What a beautiful melody it has. I particularly like the refrain which ends with the words “Wash me, cleanse me in the blood that flowed from Calvary”.

Lyrics and Music: Lewis Hartsough

I hear Thy welcome voice
That calls me, Lord, to Thee,
For cleansing in Thy precious blood
That flowed on Calvary.

Refrain:
I am coming, Lord,
Coming now to Thee:
Wash me, cleanse me in the blood
That flowed on Calvary.

Though coming weak and vile,
Thou dost my strength assure;
Thou dost my vileness fully cleanse,
Till spotless all and pure.

‘Tis Jesus calls me on
To perfect faith and love,
To perfect hope and peace and trust,
For earth and heav’n above.

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