Today’s hymn comes from my favourite hymn writer, John Newton. In Olney HymnS, this hymn is prefaced with Luke 22:31-32: “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” May you remember that the Lord Jesus himself is praying for you so that you may win the battle against sin; enjoy!

Simon, beware! the Saviour said,
Satan, your subtle foe,
Already has his measures laid
Your soul to overthrow.

He wants to sift you all, as wheat,
And thinks his vict’ry sure;
But I his malice will defeat,
My prayer shall faith secure.

Believers, tremble and rejoice,
Your help and danger view;
This warning has to you a voice,
This promise speaks to you.

Satan beholds, with jealous eye,
Your privilege and joy;
He’s always watchful, always nigh,
To tear and to destroy.

But Jesus lives to intercede,
That faith may still prevail,
He will support in time of need,
And Satan’s arts shall fail.

Yet, let us not the warning slight,
But watchful still be found;
Though faith cannot be slain in fight,
It may receive a wound.

While Satan watches, dare we sleep?
We must our guard maintain;
But, Lord, do thou the city keep,
Or else we watch in vain.

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Today’s hymn comes from John Pyke Hullah (1812-1884), an English composer and teacher of music, whose promotion of vocal training is associated with the singing-class movement (teaching sight-singing to children at primary school age, which resulted in the formation of a large number of church choirs and choral societies). He worked with Charles Dickens and Felix Mendelssohn¹. I’m sure you’ll be able to relate to this one; enjoy!

When Satan my accuser
Has so oppressed my heart,
That all my joys are smitten
And sacred hopes depart;
And when I dwell in darkness,
As those whose souls are dead,
And sorrows overwhelming
Invade and rule my head.

Then in my desolation
I muse on days gone by:
Review God’s gracious blessings,
His power from on high,
His hand of lovingkindness
That saved a wretch like me,
And brought me out of bondage
The path of life to see.

Reflecting on the goodness
And mercies of the Lord,
Then tracing all the wonders
Discovered in His Word;
And thinking of the trials
Once brought to Him in prayer,
And all His answering kindness,
I feel, once more, His care!

How can I doubt my Saviour?
I stretch my hands again,
And thirst for further tokens
Of my eternal gain;
O Lord, I’ll trust Thy promise,
Thy faithfulness and love;
Come, lead me ever onward
To Thy dear land above.

¹wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Pyke_Hullah

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Today’s hymn comes from Théodore Monod (1836-1921), who was the the son of a pastor in the French Reformed Church and later himself became a pastor in a Presbyterian church in America before returning to a French Reformed Church in Paris. I enjoyed reading this one as it details the journey of sanctification; I hope you can also resonate with it. Enjoy!

O, the bitter shame and sorrow,
That a time could ever be
When I let the Savior’s pity
Plead in vain, and proudly answered,
“All of self, and none of Thee!”¹

Yet He found me; I beheld Him
Bleeding on th’ accursèd tree,
Heard Him pray, “Forgive them, Father!”
And my wistful heart said faintly—
“Some of self, and some of Thee!”

Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Sweet and strong, and, ah! so patient,
Brought me lower, while I whispered,
“Less of self, and more of Thee!”

Higher than the highest heavens,
Deeper than the deepest sea,
Lord, Thy love at last hath conquered:
Grant me now my supplication—
“None of self, and all of Thee!”

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