HymnPod

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Jessie was born in 1861 in Hiram, Ohio. Her father was Rev. Holland Brown. In all, Jessie wrote 9 books, 50 cantata librettos, and over 400 hymns.

This hymn could have been inspired by a popular sermon illustration circulating during those days:

The geographical heart of London is Charing Cross, which is referred to locally simply as “the Cross”. A London police officer came upon a lost child who was unable to tell him where he lived. Finally, amid sobs and tears, the child simply said, “If you will take me to the Cross, I think I can find my way home from there”.

Lyrics: Jessie Brown Pound
Music: Charles H. Gabriel

I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but this;
I shall ne’er get sight of the Gates of Light,
If the way of the cross I miss.

Refrain:
The way of the cross leads home,
The way of the cross leads home;
It is sweet to know, as I onward go,
The way of the cross leads home.

I must needs go on in the blood-sprinkled way,
The path that the Savior trod,
If I ever climb to the heights sublime,
Where the soul is at home with God.

Then I bid farewell to the way of the world,
To walk in it nevermore;
For my Lord says, “Come,” and I seek my home,
Where He waits at the open door.

May we look to the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ for the gracious gift of Salvation. Amen.

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Jennie Hussey was a life long Quaker. She had to care for an invalid sister for most of her life. Yet she was cheerful, courageous and wrote more than 150 hymn texts.

Lyrics: Jennie Evelyn Hussey
Music: William J. Kirkpatrick 

King of my life, I crown Thee now,
Thine shall the glory be;
Lest I forget Thy thorn crowned brow,
Lead me to Calvary.

Refrain:
Lest I forget Gethsemane,
Lest I forget Thine agony;
Lest I forget Thy love for me,
Lead me to Calvary.

Show me the tomb where Thou wast laid,
Tenderly mourned and wept;
Angels in robes of light arrayed
Guarded Thee whilst Thou slept.

Let me like Mary, through the gloom,
Come with a gift to Thee;
Show to me now the empty tomb,
Lead me to Calvary.

May I be willing, Lord, to bear
Daily my cross for Thee;
Even Thy cup of grief to share,
Thou hast borne all for me.

Lead Me To Calvary first appeared in the hymn book entitled New Songs of Praise and Power in 1921.

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The lyrics of this hymn were written in 1153. Bernard was a monk who lived in Clairvaux. He founght heresy and defended the doctrine of the Trinity, but he also advocated a militant faith. Thus, he was a paradoxical character.

The music was written by Hans Leo Hassler and later harmonized by Bach. I feel like I’m riding on the backs of musical giants, whilst rendering this hymn.

Lyrics: Based on Medieval Latin poem
Ascribed to Bernard of Clairvaux

Music: Hans Leo Hassler
Harmony:  J. S. Bach

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
How pale thou art with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How does that visage languish, which once was bright as morn!

What Thou, my Lord hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain:
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ‘Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.

This hymn is often sung during Easter which is fast approaching. It speaks of Christ’s great suffering on the cross as He shed His Precious Blood for sinners like me.

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This was one of Pastor Cushing’s first hymns for children. It was written in 1856 for his Sunday School children. The text is based on Mal 3:17 – “And they shall me mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels.”

Lyrics: William O. Cushing
Music: George F. Root
Tune Title: JEWELS

When He cometh, when He cometh
To make up His jewels,
All His jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

Refrain:
Like the stars of the morning,
His brightness adorning,
They shall shine in their beauty,
Bright gems for His crown.

He will gather, He will gather
The gems for His kingdom;
All the pure ones, all the bright ones,
His loved and His own.

Little children, little children,
Who love their Redeemer,
Are the jewels, precious jewels,
His loved and His own.

I have a handbell and vocal version of this hymn on video as well:

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This is such an encouraging hymn, with its simple repetitive message. It was used widely by Ira Sankey in his evangelistic campaigns.

Cushing went through a dark valley in his life with the death of his wife and the lost of his voice. We will also have our dark valleys in life. But thank God that these will come to past one day when the Lord Jesus comes. Amen!

Lyrics: William O. Cushing
Music: Ira D. Sankey

There’ll be no dark valley when Jesus comes,
There’ll be no dark valley when Jesus comes;
There’ll be no dark valley when Jesus comes
To gather His loved ones home.

Refrain:
To gather His loved ones home (safe home),
To gather His loved ones home (safe home);
There’ll be no dark valley when Jesus comes
To gather His loved ones home.

There’ll be no more sorrow when Jesus comes,
There’ll be no more sorrow when Jesus comes;
But a glorious morrow when Jesus comes
To gather His loved ones home.

There’ll be no more weeping when Jesus comes,
There’ll be no more weeping when Jesus comes;
But a blessed reaping when Jesus comes
To gather His loved ones home.

There’ll be songs of greeting when Jesus comes,
There’ll be songs of greeting when Jesus comes;
And a joyful meeting when Jesus comes
To gather His loved ones home.

I played all four stanzas and slowed down for the last stanza. Hope you like this rendition.

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William O. Cushing said that when he wrote this hymn text in 1876, “it was the outgrowth of many tears, many heart conflicts and yearnings of which the world could know nothing.” After the death of his wife in middle age, Cushing was forced to retire from an active ministry because of poor health. He had been a successful pastor in the eastern areas of the United States. He began to be intensely interested in writing hymns, collaborating with many of the leading gospel musicians of that time. One day when Ira Sankey made a special request for a song in his gospel work, Cushing felt it was a direct call from God. He explained:

I prayed, “Lord, give me something that may glorify Thee.” It was while thus waiting that “Hiding in Thee” pressed to make itself known. Mr. Sankey called forth the tune and by his genius gave the hymn wings, making it useful in the Master’s work.

William Cushing knew personally the sorrows and turmoil of life, but he also knew where he could find safety and rest-in the “blest Rock of Ages.” When this hymn was first published, the author prefaced it with Psalm 31:2-”Be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.”

Lyrics: William O. Cushing
Music: Ira Sankey

O safe to the Rock that is higher than I,
My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly;
So sinful, so weary, Thine, Thine, would I be;
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

Refrain:
Hiding in Thee, hiding in Thee,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow’s lone hour,
In times when temptation casts o’er me its power;
In the tempests of life, on its wide, heaving sea,
Thou blest “Rock of Ages,” I’m hiding in Thee.

How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,
I have fled to my refuge and breathed out my woe;
How often, when trials like sea billows roll,
Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.

An interesting point to note is that William O. Cushing had serious trouble with his voice, meaning that he probably could not sing his own hymns out loud, but only in his heart.

Thank God for this hymn that has ministered to many.

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I liked this hymn the first time I heard it. There is a sense of freedom and security both in the lyrics and in the melody.

The author of this hymn, William Orcutt Cushing, born in 1823, was a Christian pastor in New York. His wife died, and later, he had severe problems with his voice. He was forced out of the pastorate.

He asked God for a way to serve Him and turned to hymn writing. William wrote more than 300 hymns in this lifetime.

Lyrics: William O. Cushing
Music: Ira D. Sankey

Under His wings I am safely abiding,
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me,
He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

Refrain:
Under His wings, under His wings,
Who from His love can sever?
Under His wings my soul shall abide,
Safely abide forever.

Under His wings, what a refuge in sorrow!
How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!
Often when earth has no balm for my healing,
There I find comfort, and there I am blessed.

Under His wings, oh, what precious enjoyment!
There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;
Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me,
Resting in Jesus, I’m safe evermore.

In the Revival Hymns and Choruses, it has been renamed to:

Under the Care of My God, The Almighty

Lyrics: based on Psalm 91, United Presbyterian Bible Songs Hymnal, 1927
Music: Ira Sankey

Under the care of my God, the Almighty,
Safe in the secret place of the Most High!
He is my Refuge, the Lord is my Fortress,
Him I am trusting when trouble is nigh.

Refrain:
Under his wings, under his wings,
Safe in the refuge hide thee;
Trusting his truth and faithfulness,
No evil can betide thee.

Be not afraid for the terror of midnight,
Nor for the arrow that hasteth to slay;
Fear not the pestilence walking in darkness,
Nor the destroyer that wasteth by day.

Seek the Most High for thy sure habitation,
Unto Jehovah for refuge now fly;
There shall no evil befall thee nor harm thee,
Unto thy dwelling no plague shall come nigh.

Love thou the Lord, surely he will deliver;
He will exalt thee and answer thy prayer;
He will be with thee to honor and give thee
Life without end, his salvation to share.

May God help us amidst all the storms and trials of life.

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This hymn goes out to Rev Tan Chor Kiat and Elder Peter Yeo. Thanks for all the encouragement with this project. May God help the ministry at Ju Eng Home.

Willing O. Cushing details how this hymn came about:

“I wrote this hymn in 1878,” the Rev. W. O. Cushing tells me. (Sankey) “Longing to give up all for Christ who had given his life for me, I wanted to be willing to lay everything at his feet, with no wish but to do his will, to live hence­forth only for his glory. Out of this feeling came the hymn, ‘Follow On.’ It was written with the prayer and the hope that some heart might by it be led to give up all for Christ. Much of the power and usefulness of the hymn, how ever, are due to Mr. Lowry, who put it into song.”

Lyrics: William O. Cushing
Music: Robery Lowry

Down in the valley with my Savior I would go,
Where the flowers are blooming and the sweet waters flow;
Everywhere He leads me I would follow, follow on,
Walking in His footsteps till the crown be won.

Refrain:
Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!
Follow! follow! I would follow Jesus!
Everywhere He leads me I would follow on!

Down in the valley with my Savior I would go,
Where the storms are sweeping and the dark waters flow;
With His hand to lead me I will never, never fear,
Danger cannot fright me if my Lord is near.

Down in the valley, or upon the mountain steep,
Close beside my Savior would my soul ever keep;
He will lead me safely in the path that He has trod,
Up to where they gather on the hills of God.

http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/bcushing.html

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As mentioned in my previous post, Fanny Crosby was converted when she heard this hymn being played. This was in 1850 when she was 30 years old.

In her own words:

And when they reached the 3rd line of the last verse:

“Here, Lord, I give myself away;
‘Tis all that I can do.”

I surrendered myself to the Saviour, and my very soul was flooded with celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting “Hallelujah.”

Lyrics: Isaac Watts
Music: Hugh Wilson
Harmony: Robert A. Smith
Tune: MARTYRDOM

Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
And did my Sovereign die!
Would he devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Was it for crimes that I have done,
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
And shut its glories in,
When God, the mighty maker, died
For man the creature’s sin.

Thus might I hide my blushing face
While his dear cross appears;
Dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
And melt mine eyes to tears.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
Tis all that I can do.

I think it was probably this tune they used instead of the one in my previous post. Does anyone out there know for sure?

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This great consecration hymn by Isaac Watts had a major role to play in the conversion of American hymn writer Fanny Crosby.

The following is Fanny Crosby’s own account:

[In] the autumn of 1850…revival meetings were being held in the Thirtieth Street Methodist Church [, New York City]. Some of us went down ev­ery evening; and, on two occasions, I sought peace at the atlar, but did not find the joy I craved, until one evening, November 20, 1850, it seemed to me that the light must in deed come then or never; and so I arose and went to the altar alone. After a prayer was offered, they began to sing the grand old consecration hymn, “Alas, and did my Saviour bleed, And did my Sovereign die?” And when they reached the third line of the fourth stanza, “Here Lord, I give my self away,” my very soul was flooded with a celestial light. I sprang to my feet, shouting “Hallelu­jah,” and then for the first time I realized that I had been trying to hold the world in one hand and the Lord in the other.

Lyrics: Isaac Watts
Chorus: Ralph E. Hudson
Music: Ralph E. Hudson

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

Refrain:
At the cross, at the cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I received my sight,
And now I am happy all the day!

Was it for crimes that I had done
He groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!

Well might the sun in darkness hide
And shut his glories in,
When Christ, the mighty Maker died,
For man the creature’s sin.

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe:
Here, Lord, I give my self away
‘Tis all that I can do.

There is another tune to this hymn without the refrain which I will be publishing in my next post.