J N Darby Hark! Ten Thousand Voices Crying

“THE ENDLESS SONG”

J.N. Darby  1800-1882

1. 

   O the joy of the salvation
   We possess around the throne,
   Countless thoughts of admiration
   Mingling leave that joy but one. 

2. Hark! ten thousand voices crying,
   “Lamb of God!” with one accord;
   Thousand thousand saints replying,
   Bursts at once the echoing chord.
3. Long with free and glad devotion
   Universal praise prevails,
   Till, blest fruit of deep emotion,
   Voice by voice in silence fails.
4. Now, in wondrous adoration,
   Dwelling on His matchless love,
   Sway’d with power of that salvation,
   Silence fills the courts above.
5. Then their richest thoughts unfolding,
   Each to each with joy divine,
   Heavenly converse blissful holding,
   Tells how bright His glories shine.
6. Some on God’s high glories dwelling,
   Brightly beaming in His face;
   Some His First-born greatness telling,
   Ordering all things in their place.
7. These of Godhead’s counsels deep
   Him th’ Accomplisher proclaim;
   These how Jesu’s self could weep,
   Of Godhead’s love the Witness came.
8. All on love surpassing rest,
   That clothed in flesh the great I AM:
   Till from a heart divinely prest
   Bursts forth at length the loud exclaim,
9. “Praise the Lamb!”–at once awaking
   The gather’d hosts, their voices throng;
   Loud and wide each tongue partaking,
   Rolls renew’d the endless song.
10. Grateful incense this, ascending
    Rises to the Father’s throne;
    Every knee to Christ is bending,
    All the mind in heaven is one.
11. All the Father’s counsels claiming
    Equal honours to the Son,
    All the Son’s effulgence beaming
    Glory of His Father’s throne.
12. By the Spirit all pervading
    Radiant hosts unnumber’d round,
    Breathing glory never fading,
    Echo back the blissful sound.
13. Joyful now the wide creation
    Rests in undisturb’d repose ;
    Blest in Jesu’s full salvation,
    Sorrow now nor thraldom knows.
14. Rich the streams of bounty flowing,
    Common blessings from above,
    Life and holy joy bestowing,
    Tell of God’s unwearied love.
15. Hark the heavenly notes again
    Loudly swells the air-borne praise ;
    Throughout creation’s vault, “Amen,
    “Amen!” responsive joy doth raise.

Selected verses Hymns for the Little Flock 1962 and 1973 and in Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs 1978 – No 14

A note from Sosthenes

Years ago, Percy Lyon, a servant of the Lord well known for his colourful (in the right sense) language and intonation said to my father,  “We won’t be praising the Lord all the time, we’ll have reading meetings too!  Then he quoted JND’s lines ‘Each to each with joy divine, Heavenly converse blissful holding,  Tells how bright His glories shine Some on God’s high glories dwelling, Brightly beaming in His face; Some His First-born greatness telling, Ordering all things in their place.’ “