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The Cleansing Wave

This hymn was written by a mother and daughter team in 1867, New York. They were well to do in life. The Knapp Mansion had a fine collection of musical instruments including a large pipe organ. Phoebe Knapp was a close friend of Fanny Crosby, whom she wrote Blessed Assurance with.

Phoebe Knapp may have been one of the first hymnists to hear her own songs on a phonograph. In Feb 1909, Thomas Edison’s National Phonograph Company of Orange, New Jersey, release a wax cylinder recording of Blessed Assurance sung by the Edison Mixed Quartette. It is likely that Phoebe heard this original recording.

Lyrics: Phoebe W. Palmer
Music: Phoebe P. Knapp

Oh, now I see the cleansing wave!
The fountain deep and wide;
Jesus, my Lord, mighty to save,
Points to His wounded side.

Refrain:
The cleansing stream I see! I see!
I plunge, and oh, it cleanseth me!
Oh, praise the Lord! It cleanseth me!
It cleanseth me-yes, cleanseth me.

I rise to walk in Heav’n’s own light,
Above the world and sin,
With heart made pure and garments white,
And Christ enthroned within.

I see the new creation rise;
I hear the speaking blood.
It speaks! Polluted nature dies!
Sinks ‘neath the cleansing flood.

Amazing grace! ’tis Heav’n below
To feel the blood applied,
And Jesus, only Jesus know,
My Jesus crucified.

These days, thanks to the Internet and modern recording technology, people all  around the world can enjoy hymns, even through this podcast.

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