Category: Hymns and Poems

Josiah Condor – Thou art the Everlasting Word

Image of the Infinite Unseen,
Whose being none can know;
Brightness of light no eye hath seen,
God’s love revealed below.
The light of love has shone in Thee,
And in that love our souls are free

D-JOSIAH-CONDER03I thought of this hymn whilst writing the summary of JND’s  ‘A few words on the Trinity’

Although verse 3 is not in the 1962 version of the Little Flock hymn book, the Lord being the image of the invisible God was much in mind.

 

1 THOU art the everlasting Word,
The Father’s only Son,
God manifest, God seen and heard,
The heaven’s beloved One;
The Lamb of God, exalted Lord
Worthy art Thou to be adored!

2 In Thee most perfectly expressed,
The Father’s self doth shine;
Fulness of Godhead, too; the Blest,
Eternally divine.
With Thee before the Father’s face,
We celebrate His boundless grace.

3 Image of the Infinite Unseen,
Whose being none can know;
Brightness of light no eye hath seen,
God’s love revealed below.
The light of love has shone in Thee,
And in that love our souls are free.

4 The higher mysteries of Thy fame,
The creature’s grasp transcend;
The Father only that blest name
Of Son can comprehend.
The sweetness of that name of love
The Father gives us now to prove.

5 Yet loving Thee, on whom His love
Ineffable doth rest,
Our hearts are led to Him above,
And we with Thee are blest.
The Father’s name Thou hast declared,
The Father’s love with Thee is shared.

6 Of the vast universe of bliss,
The Centre Thou and Sun;
The eternal theme of praise is this,
That God’s beloved Son
Fills all that scene, where God alone
In His own rest is fully known.

 

Parts of the above are in Hymns for the Little Flock 1962 and 1973 – No 11 and in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978 No 401

8.6.8.6.8.8.

sung to Supremacy midi score
by N. Tomblin, 1933

J N Darby – Waiting for the Glory

I’M waiting for the glory;
Are your thoughts with me too?
It is the old, old story,
But all most sweetly true.

JohnNelsonDarby

I’M waiting for the glory;
Are your thoughts with me too?
It is the old, old story,
But all most sweetly true.

I’m waiting for the glory;
Jesus Himself is there;
He’s gone on high before me –
Calls me with Him to share.

Jesus, the Lord, did love us –
Will love us to the end,
And lifts our hearts above us,
To love that will not end.

For the day is nearing, nearing,
When we shall see His face;
Each step the way endearing,
Which leads to that blest place.

For Jesus comes with power
To change these bodies vile,
Or raise them in that hour
From where they rest awhile.

Then shall His soul’s deep travail
Find its love-fraught reward;
Nor joy nor promise shall fail –
With Him, like Him, their Lord!

But who’s this all-glorious Lord,
To whom each knee doth bow?
The Sorrower, once abhorred!
The Lord in His glory now!

Art waiting for the glory?
Thy thoughts go with me too!
Yes, ’tis the old, old story,
But all most sweetly true!

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)

[1879]
7.6.7.6.

J N Darby – The Tree of Life – Soon we taste the endless sweetness

JohnNelsonDarby

SOON we taste the endless sweetness
Of the Tree of life above;
Taste its own eternal meetness
For the heavenly land we love.

In eternal counsels founded,
Perfect now in fruit divine;
When the last blest trump has sounded,
Fruit of God for ever mine!

Fresh and ever new are hanging
Fruits of life on that blest Tree;
There is stilled each earnest longing,
Satisfied my soul shall be.

Safety, where no foe approaches;
Rest, where toil shall be no more;
Joy, whereon no grief encroaches;
Peace, where strife shall all be o’er –

“Holiness and love and joy characterize the land. They are the fruits which grow there spontaneously, as are the thanksgivings that arise in the hearts of those who are there through redeeming power.”
J.N.D.

Various fruits of richest flavour
Offers still the Tree divine;
One itself, the same for ever,
All its various fruits are mine.

Where deceiver ne’er can enter,
Sin-soiled feet have never trod,
Free, our peaceful feet may venture
In the paradise of God;

Drink of life’s perennial river,
Feed on life’s perennial food,
Christ, the fruit of life, and Giver –
Safe through His redeeming blood.

Object of eternal pleasure,
Perfect in Thy work divine!
Lord of glory! Without measure,
Worship, joy, and praise are Thine!

But, my soul, hast thou not tasted
Of that Tree of life on high?
As through desert lands thou’st hasted,
Eshcol’s grapes been never nigh?

Ah! that Tree of life was planted,
Rooted deep in love divine,
Ere the sons of God had chanted
Worlds where creature glories shine.

Love divine without a measure
Godhead glory must reveal;
In the Object of its pleasure
All its ways of grace must seal.

As a tender sucker, rising
From a dry and stony land,
Object of man’s proud despising,
Grew the Plant of God’s right hand.

Grace and truth, in love unceasing,
Rivers on the thirsty ground –
Every step to God well pleasing –
Spread their heavenly savour round.

He the Father’s Self revealing –
Heavenly words none else could tell,
Words of grace, each sorrow healing,
On the ear of sorrow fell.

Yes! that Tree of life is planted;
Sweetest fruit e’en here has borne;
To its own rich soil transplanted,
Waits alone the eternal morn-

Fruits that our own souls have tasted
By the Spirit from above,
While through desert lands we’ve hasted,
Fruits of perfect, endless love!

 

John Nelson Darby,

Written 1870
Parts of the above are in Hymns for the Little Flock 1962 and 1973 – Nos 50 and 206 and in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978 – No 387

(Lord, in Thee we taste the sweetness Of the Tree of Life above)

Meter 8.7.8.7.

Daniel Otsing – Thou Lord, from the Heavens wilt come

A hymn written by Daniel Otsing about 1920, and often sung by the Russian brethren.

Thou Lord, from the heavens wilt come,
Our deliverer, God’s own Son,
For Thy bride, to take her home
To the glory Thou hast won.
Oh, Belov’d, till shadows flee,
Longing hearts wait earnestly.

Thou hast left us, gone on high,
On the Father’s throne to wait;
We, ‘neath dark and stormy sky,
Toil with floods that ne’er abate.
Oh, Belov’d, sustained by Thee,
Longing hearts wait patently.

Thou art faithful, and Thy love
Ne’er can fail Thy cherished bride.
In Thy Father’s house above,
With Thyself shall we abide.
Oh, Belov’d, thus cheered by Thee,
Longing hearts wait eagerly.

This Thy precious promise, Lord,
“I come quickly”, us inspires
Sweet as honey is the word
Telling of Thy heart’s desires.
Oh, Belov’d, we wait for Thee,
Longing hearts Thy face would see.

Lord, to Thee we turn our gaze,
Soon from heaven Thou’lt be revealed;
Then shall beam Thy glorious rays,
Nevermore to be concealed.
Oh, Belov’d, we hail that hour
Of Thy manifested power
 

Daniel Otsing (1850-1937) lived in St Petersburg, Russia and was in a small brethren meeting there.  The meeting suffered a lot of persecution after the Bolshevik Revolution and many faithful souls were transported to Siberia where they continued to witness to the Love of God in appalling conditions.

His great-niece Alice Mutton was taken to be with the Lord in January 2015.  Some ‘Russian Nuggets’ are being issued by Saville Street Distribution, Walton, Essex.  Contact e,mutton1462@btinternet.com .

J N Darby – Echo of Songs in the Night – To live of Thee – Blest Source of Deepest Joy!

J N Darby
John Nelson Darby

TO live of Thee – blest source of deepest joy!
To hear e’en now by faith Thy voice of love-
Thou living spring of bliss without alloy,
Bright inlet to the light of heaven above!

Come, fill my soul! Thy light is ever pure,
And brings from heaven what Thou alone canst give,
Yea, brings Thyself, the revelation sure
Of heaven’s eternal bliss; in Thee we live.

I hail Thee, Lord! Of Thee my song shall speak –
Poor and unworthy strains, yet still of Thee;
Yes, fill my soul! ’tis this my heart doth seek –
To dwell in love, and God my dwelling be.

Thou’st made the Father known; Him have we seen
In Thy blest Person – infinite delight!
Yes, it suffices: though we here but glean
Some foretaste of His love, till all be light.

O, dwell with me; let no distracting thought
Intrude to hide from me that heavenly light.
Be Thou my strength! Let not what Thou hast brought
Be chased by idle nature’s poor delight.

Father, Thou lov’st me. Favour, all divine,
Rests on my soul, a cloudless favour! There
Thy face shines on me, as it still doth shine
On Thy blest Son! His image I shall bear!

But now, e’en now, Thy love can fill my soul –
That love that soars beyond all creature thought –
In spirit bring where endless praises roll,
And fill my longing heart till there I’m brought.

Thee will I hail, O Lord, in whose blest face
God’s glory shines unveiled! Thee will I praise,
Whose love has brought me nigh in righteous grace,
And soon wilt come, eternal songs to raise!

And oh! how deep the peace, when, nature gone,
Thy Spirit fills the soul, strengthened with might,
With love divine; and God as Love is known!
Lord, keep my soul, and guide my steps aright.

Praise be for ever His who giveth songs by night!

John Nelson Darby,

Wriiten 1879
Parts of the above are in Hymns for the Little Flock 1962 and 1973 – Nos 73, 137 and 254

and in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978 – Nos 314 and 431
Meter 10.10.10.10

J N Darby – Rest – There is rest for the weary soul

THERE is rest for the weary soul,
There is rest in the Saviour’s love;
There is rest in the grace that has made me whole –
That seeks out those that rove.

 

THERE is rest for the weary soul,
There is rest in the Saviour’s love;
There is rest in the grace that has made me whole –
That seeks out those that rove.

There is rest in the tender love
That has trodden our path below;
That has given us a place in the realms above,
But can all our sorrows know.

There is rest in the calming grace
That flows from those realms above;
What rest in the thought – we shall see His face,
Who has given us to know His love!

There is rest in the midst of grief,
For grief’s been the proof of love;
‘Tis sweet in that love to find relief,
When the sorrows of earth we prove.

There is rest in the Saviour’s heart
Who never turned sorrow away,
But has found, in what sin had made our part,
The place of His love’s display.

There is rest in the blessed yoke
That knows no will but His;
That learns, from His path and the words He spoke,
What that loving patience is.

Where He too has gone before,
Is the path which we have to tread;
And it leads to the rest where sorrow’s o’er –
To the place where His steps have led.

 

Mr Darby adds:

In this world of sin and misery Christ necessarily suffered “- suffered also because of righteousness, and because of His love. Morally, this feeling of sorrow is the necessary consequence of possessing a moral nature totally opposed to everything that is in the world. Love, holiness, veneration for God, love for man – everything is essential suffering here below.”
J.N.D.

Synopsis Vol 4 page 133 – Romans 8

John Nelson Darby (1800-82)

Wriiten 1879
In Hymns for the  Little Flock 1962 and 1973 – No 85 and in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978 – No 169
Meter 8.8.11.8.

J N Darby – Sons – Father, Thy name our souls would bless

J N DarbyFATHER, Thy name our souls would bless

As children taught by grace,
Lift up our hearts in righteousness
And joy before Thy face.

Sweet is the confidence Thou giv’st,
Though high above our praise;
Our hearts resort to where Thou liv’st
In heaven’s unclouded rays.

There in the purpose of Thy love
Our place is now prepared,
As sons with Him who is above,
Who all our sorrows shared.

Eternal ages shall declare
The riches of Thy grace,
To those who with Thy Son shall share
A son’s eternal place.

Absent as yet, we rest in hope,
Treading the desert path,
Waiting for Him who takes us up
Beyond the power of death.

Unchanging glory fills the place
Where Jesus dwells on high;
But brighter joy our spirits trace
With Him, for ever nigh!

We joy in Thee; Thy holy love
Our endless portion is –
Like Thine own Son, with Him above,
In brightest heavenly bliss.

His Father Thou, and ours thro’ grace,
We taste the same delight –
Blest in the brightness of Thy face,
In heaven’s unclouded light.

Father! Thy love my portion is,
As son, like Christ, with Thee;
Oh, who can tell of love like this,
So sov’reign, full, and free!

O Holy Father, keep us here
In that blest name of Love,
Walking before Thee without fear,
Till all be joy above.

John Nelson Darby (1800-82)

Written 1879

  • Parts of the above are in Hymns for the  Little Flock 1962 and 1973 – Nos 25 and 26
  • Part of the above is in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978 – No 25

C.M. (8.6.8.6)

J N Darby – Home – Oh bright and blessed scenes, where sin shall never come;

My God whom I have known,
Well known in Jesus’ love,
Rests in the blessing of His own
Before Himself above.

OH! bright and blessed scenes,
Where sin shall never come;
Whose sight my longing spirit weans
From earth, where yet I roam.

And can I call my home
My Father’s house on high?
The rest of God, my rest to come,
My place of liberty?

Yes! In that light unstained
My stainless soul shall live;
My heart’s deep longings more than gained,
When God His rest shall give.

His presence there, my soul
Its rest, its joy untold,
Shall find, when endless ages roll
And time shall ne’er grow old.

My God the centre is;
His presence fills that land;
And countless myriads, own’d as His,
Round Him adoring stand.

My God whom I have known,
Well known in Jesus’ love,
Rests in the blessing of His own
Before Himself above.

Glory supreme is there,
Glory that shines through all;
More precious still that love to share
As those that love did call.

Like Jesus in that place
Of light and love supreme;
Once Man of sorrows, full of grace;
Heaven’s blest and endless theme.

Like Him! O grace supreme!
Like Him before Thy face!
Like Him – to know that glory beam
Unhindered, face to face!

O love, supreme and bright,
Good to the feeblest heart,
That gives me now, as heavenly light,
What soon shall be my part!

Be not to me, my God,
As one that turned aside
To tarry for a night, and trod
His onward path. Abide

With me as light divine,
That brings into my breast
Those gladdening scenes e’en now as mine,
Soon my eternal rest.

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)

Wriiten 1867
Parts of the above are in Hymns for the  Little Flock 1962 and 1973 – Nos 64 and 72
S.M. (6.6.8.6)

 

J N Darby – Patience of Hope – O Jesus, precious Saviour, Oh, when wilt Thou return?

Oh, come then soon, Lord Jesus;
In patience still we wait,
Await the power that frees us –
Our longed-for heavenly seat!

O JESUS, precious Saviour,
Oh, when wilt Thou return?
Our hearts, with woe familiar,
To Thee our Master turn.

Our woe is Thine, Lord Jesus;
Our joy is in Thy love;
But woe and joy all lead us
To Thee in heaven above.

We ponder the long story
Of this world’s mournful ways;
We think on holy glory,
With Thee, through endless days.

We see God’s gracious order
All spoiled by man below –
See all around disorder,
Meek hearts beset with woe.

Where’er we ope the pages,
In which – Thy wondrous word –
Man’s path through varied ages
Is given us to record,

Of failure, ruin, sorrow,
The story still we find;
God’s love but brings the morrow
Of evil in mankind.

To Thee we look, Lord Jesus,
To Thee whose love we know;
We wait the power that frees us
From bondage, sin and woe.

We look for Thine appearing,
Thy presence here to bless;
We greet the day that’s nearing,
When all this woe shall cease.

But oh, for us, blest Saviour,
How brighter far the lot,
With Thee to be for ever,
Where evil enters not!

To see Thee, who’st so loved us,
Then face to face above,
Whose grace at first had moved us
To taste and know Thy love!

With Thee, O Lord, for ever,
Our souls shall be content;
Nor act, nor thought, shall ever
Full joy with Thee prevent.

Thy Father’s perfect favour
Our dwelling-place shall be;
And all His glory ever
Shine forth on us and Thee.

Oh, come then soon, Lord Jesus;
In patience still we wait,
Await the power that frees us –
Our longed-for heavenly seat!

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)

Shortened version in Little Flock Hymn Book  (1962, 1973) – No 200

J N Darby – Fulness of Joy – Oh, bright and blessed hope!

Still, Lord, to see Thy face,
Thy voice to hear;
To know Thy present love
For ever near;

To gaze upon Thyself,
So faithful known,
Long proved in secret help
With Thee alone;

J N Darby
John Nelson Darby

OH, bright and blessed hope!
When shall it be
That we His face, long loved,
Revealed shall see?

Oh! when, without a cloud,
His features trace,
Whose faithful love so long
We’ve known in grace;

That love itself enjoy,
Which, ever true,
Did in our feeble path
Its work pursue?

O Jesus, not unknown,
Thy love shall fill
The heart in which Thou dwell’st,
And shalt dwell still.

Still, Lord, to see Thy face,
Thy voice to hear;
To know Thy present love
For ever near;

To gaze upon Thyself,
So faithful known,
Long proved in secret help
With Thee alone;

To see that love, content,
On me flow forth,
For ever Thy delight,
Clothed with Thy worth!

O Lord, ’twas sweet the thought
That Thou wast mine;
But brighter still the joy
That I am Thine!

Thine own, O Lord, the fruit,
The cherished fruit,
Of Thine all perfect love!
No passing root

Of evil e’er will dim
Thy cloudless rays;
But a full heart pour forth
Thine endless praise!

Nor what is next Thy heart
Can we forget –
Thy saints, O Lord, with Thee
In glory met,

(Perfect in comeliness
Before Thy face –
Th’eternal witness all
Of Thine own grace),

Together then their songs
Of endless praise,
With one harmonious voice,
In joy shall raise!

O joy supreme and full,
Where sunless day
Sheds forth, with light divine,
Its cloudless ray!

John Nelson Darby (1800-1882)
Wriiten 1879
Parts of the above are in Hymns for the  Little Flock 1962 and 1973 and in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978 – No 160

6.4.6.4. usually sung as 6.4.6.4.D.

%d bloggers like this: