Todayks hymn is from Eliza Edmunds Hewitt (1851-1920; pseudonym Li­die H. Ed­munds). She was born in Philadelphia and educated in the public schools; after graduation from high school she became a teacher. However, she developed a spinal malady which cut short her career and made her a shut-in for many years. During her convalescence, she studied English literature. She felt a need to be useful to her church and began writing poems for the primary department. she went on to teach Sunday school, take an active part in the Philadelphia Elementary Union and become Superintendent of the primary department of Calvin Presbyterian Church¹. Enjoy!

Father all holy, bend we so lowly,
Glowing with love’s tender flame,
Father in heaven, praises be given,
Hallowed forever thy Name.
Telling the story, spreading thy glory,
Send forth thy people, we pray,
Till every nation know thy salvation,
Under thy kingdom’s full sway.

Angels adore thee, waiting before thee,
Swift thy commands to fulfil:
Grant us, we pray thee, grace to obey thee,
Choosing and serving thy will.
Father, now lead us, day by day feed us,
Ever provide and defend;
Trespass confessing, seeking thy blessing,
Pardon and peace without end.

From sin deliver, keep us forever,
Kingdom and glory are thine,
Thine, too, the power, hear us this hour,
Father, our Father divine!
Jesus is pleading, still interceding
For his redeemed ones again,
For his sake hear us, in his name cheer us,
He is the faithful “Amen.”

¹hymnary.org/person/Hewitt_EE

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Philip P. Bliss (1838-1876) was converted at a revival meeting at age twelve and became an itinerant music teacher. His first song was published in 1864, and in 1868 Dwight L. Moody advised him to become a singing evangelist. For the last two years of his life Bliss traveled with Major D. W. Whittle and led the music at revival meetings in the Midwest and Southern United States. Bliss and Ira D. Sankey published a popular series of hymn collections entitled Gospel Hymns. More Holiness Give Me” first appeared under the title “My Prayer” in the author’s second collection of hymns, Sunshine for the Sunday Schools, including one of my favourites “Hallelujah! What a Saviour,”.¹ Enjoy and make this one your prayer today.

More holiness give me,
More strivings within,
More patience in suff’ring,
More sorrow for sin,
More faith in my Savior,
More sense of his care,
More joy in his service,
More purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me,
More trust in the Lord,
More pride in his glory,
More hope in his word,
More tears for his sorrows,
More pain at his grief,
More meekness in trial,
More praise for relief.

More purity give me,
More strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains,
More longing for home.
More fit for the kingdom,
More used would I be,
More blessed and holy—
More, Saviour, like thee.

¹https://hymnary.org/person/Bliss_Philip

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Today’s hymn is by John Newton and I’m sure will provide great encouragement for you to pray. Enjoy!

Come, my soul, thy suit prepare,
Jesus loves to answer prayer.
He Himself has bid thee pray,
rise and ask without delay.

Thou art coming to a King,
large petitions with thee bring,
for his grace and pow’r are such,
none can ever ask too much.

With my burden I begin,
Lord, remove this load of sin!
Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt,
set my conscience free from guilt.

Lord! I come to Thee for rest,
take possession of my breast;
there Thy blood-bought right maintain,
and without a rival reign.

While I am a pilgrim here,
let Thy love my spirit cheer;
as my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
lead me to my journey’s end.

Show me what I have to do;
every hour my strength renew;
let me live a life of faith;
let me die Thy people’s death.

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Today’s hymn was written by James Montgomery in 1818, at the request of the Rev. E. Bickersteth, for his Treatise on Prayer. It was first printed in 1818, together with three other hymns by Montgomery on Prayer (“Thou, God, art a consuming fire,” “Lord, teach us how to pray aright,” and “What shall we ask of God in prayer?”), on a broadsheet, for use in the Sunday Schools of Sheffield (Wincobank Hall Library). In 1819 it was published simultaneously in Bickersteth’s Treatise on Prayer¹. Enjoy!

Prayer is the soul’s sincere desire,
uttered or unexpressed;
the motion of a hidden fire
that trembles in the breast.

Prayer is the simplest form of speech
that infant lips can try,
prayer the sublimest strains that reach
the Majesty on high.

3 Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
the Christian’s native air,
his watchword at the gates of death:
he enters heaven with prayer.

Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,
returning from his ways;
while angels in their songs rejoice,
and cry, ‘Behold, he prays!

The saints in prayer appear as one,
in word and deed and mind;
while with the Father and the Son
sweet fellowship they find.

Nor prayer is made on earth alone:
the Holy Spirit pleads,
and Jesus on the eternal throne
for sinners intercedes.

O Thou by whom we come to God,
the Life, the Truth, the Way,
the path of prayer thyself hast trod:
Lord, teach us how to pray!

¹hymnary.org/text/prayer_is_the_souls_sincere_desire

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Today’s hymn is from William Cowper (1731-1800), included in the Olney Hymns under the title of “Jehovah-Raphi, I am the Lord that healeth thee, Exod. xv.” The text draws upon different healing narratives found in Matthew, Mark and Luke. With Cowper suffering with his own trials, including an attempted suicide, I’m sure at least part of this hymn is a plea on behalf of himself. Enjoy!

Heal us, Emmanuel, hear our prayer; 
we wait to feel thy touch; 
deep-wounded souls to thee repair, 
and Saviour, we are such. 

Our faith is feeble, we confess 
we faintly trust thy word; 
but wilt thou pity us the less? 
Be that far from thee, Lord! 

Remember him who once applied 
with trembling for relief; 
“Lord, I believe,” with tears he cried; 
“O help my unbelief!” 

She, too, who touched thee in the press 
and healing virtue stole, 
was answered, “Daughter, go in peace: 
thy faith hath made thee whole.” 

Like her, with hopes and fears we come 
to touch thee if we may; 
O send us not despairing home; 
send none unhealed away. 

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Today’s hymn has been attributed to the Swiss Reformer John Calvin, however this may not be accurate. The translator of the hymn is mostly the work of Elizabeth L. Smith and published in 1869. Smith was the daughter of the theologian, college president, and hymn writer William Allen (who published his Psalms and Hymns in 1835). In 1843 she married Henry Boynton Smith, who served on the faculty of Union Theological Seminary in New York City (1850-1877). Well-versed in various languages, she traveled with her husband in Europe in 1869, where he sought to recuperate from physical and mental collapse. Writer of her husband’s memoirs, she also inherited an interest in hymnody from her father and translated hymns from German and French¹. Enjoy!

I greet Thee, who my sure Redeemer art,
my only trust and Savior of my heart,
who pain didst undergo for my poor sake;
I pray Thee from our hearts all cares to take.

Thou art the King of mercy and of grace,
reigning omnipotent in every place:
so come, O King, and our whole being sway;
shine on us with the light of thy pure day.

Thou art the Life, by which alone we live,
and all our substance and our strength receive;
O comfort us in death’s approaching hour,
strong-hearted then to face it by Thy pow’r.

Thou hast the true and perfect gentleness,
no harshness hast Thou and no bitterness:
make us to taste the sweet grace found in Thee
and ever stay in Thy sweet unity.

Our hope is in no other save in Thee;
our faith is built upon Thy promise free;
O grant to us such stronger hope and sure
that we can boldly conquer and endure

¹hymnary.org/text/i_greet_thee_who_my_sure_redeemer_art

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Todays hymn writer John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811-1875) was educated at Trinity College in Dublin and served as a chaplain and rector of several churches in Ireland after his ordination in 1835. Transferred to England in 1853, he became rector of Egham in Surrey and was rector of St. Nicholas Church in Guilford from 1870 until his death (caused by a construction accident at his church). His three hundred hymns, many celebrating the seasons of the church year, were issued in collections such as Hymns and Miscellaneous Poems (1837), Spiritual Songs (1857), Hymns of Love and Praise (1863), and The Parish Hymnal (1873). Enjoy turning this hymn into your prayer.

When cold our hearts, and far from Thee
Our wandering spirits stray,
And thoughts and lips move heavily,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Too vile to venture near Thy throne,
Too poor to turn away;
Our only voice,–Thy Spirit’s groan,–
Lord, teach us how to pray.

We know not how to seek Thy face,
Unless Thou lead the way;
We have no words, unless Thy grace,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

Here every thought and fond desire
We on Thine altar lay;
And when our souls have caught Thy fire,
Lord, teach us how to pray.

This song today comes from Grace Community Church in Texas. Describing the album the song has been taken from “With readings from Romans 8 throughout, it focuses on many of the songs that were important to the church during our study through the book of Romans.” I really like the simple, heart felt requests in this song for God to be the greatest end in our lives. Enjoy!

May I fear You greater than
I fear man; I fear man.
May my love for You be measured
By obedience, by repentance.
And in that moment humbly bow;
Teach my heart, show me how
To fear You more my Lord, my God!
Faithful Friend, greatest End.

May I want You greater than
Earthly things, worldly things.
May I find my greatest treasure
Hid in You, bound in You.
And in that moment sell my all
Gladly trade all I own
All to gain the priceless pearl!
Truest Friend, greatest End.

May I love You greater than
My own will, my own will.
May I seek my greatest pleasure
From Your hand, from Your hand.
And that moment lift my eyes
To the cross, up to Christ
Die to self and gain Your life,
Saviour Friend, greatest End
Greatest End.

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Charles Wesley wrote this hymn in the years immediately following his disastrous mission trip to America in 1735, his subsequent illness upon his return, and then the unbridled enthusiasm of his conversion on Pentecost Sunday, May 21, 1738. It was introduced in the book Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1742, published by John Wesley, originally with eight stanzas. The scriptural basis was Psalm 51:10, thus the heading to the hymn, “Make me a Clean Heart, O GOD, and renew a right Spirit within me.” Thirty-eight years later, the eight-stanza hymn was included in a slightly altered form in the monumental Wesley hymnal, A Collection of Hymns: For the Use of the People Called Methodists (1780) under the category “For Believers Groaning for Full Redemption.”¹ As soon as I read the words to this hymn, I felt I could immediately resonate with the plea for a clean heart, and maybe you do too. Use these words as your prayer today. Enjoy this song version!

O for a heart to praise my God, 
A heart from sin set free,
A heart that always feels thy blood
So freely shed for me. 

A heart resigned, submissive, meek,
My great Redeemer’s throne, 
Where only Christ is heard to speak, 
Where Jesus reigns alone. 

A humble, lowly, contrite heart, 
Believing, true, and clean, 
Which neither life nor death can part 
From Christ who dwells within. 

A heart in every thought renewed 
And full of love divine, 
Perfect and right and pure and good, 
A copy, Lord, of thine. 

Thy nature, gracious Lord, impart;
Come quickly from above;
Write thy new name upon my heart,
Thy new, best name of Love.

¹umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-wesley-hymn-speaks-language-of-the-heart

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Many congregations unknowingly sing the last stanza each Sunday by Thomas Ken (1637-1710). What numerous congregations commonly call “The Doxology” (“Praise God from whom all blessings flow…”) is actually the final stanza of Ken’s hymn, All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night. A native of Hertfordshire, England, Ken was orphaned at age 9 and raised as the ward of Izaak Walton, the husband of his sister, Ann. After his education at Winchester College and Hart Hall, Oxford, he became a fellow of New College in 1657, where he earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Ken was ordained in 1662 and was rector of Little Easton. Ken was among the bishops imprisoned in the Tower of London for refusing to sign James II’s 1687 “Declaration of Indulgence.” The author of many hymns, Ken wrote three hymns that framed the day—morning, evening and midnight. The two that are still in common use are “Awake my soul, and with the sun” and “All praise to thee, my God, this night.” All three hymns conclude with his famous “doxology” stanza¹.

All praise to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light!
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath Thine own almighty wings.

Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ill that I this day have done,
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

O may my soul on Thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
Sleep that may me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake

Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed.
Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glorious at the judgment day.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

¹umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-all-praise-to-thee-my-god-this-night

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