Which hymns do you sing at your church?

[christiana]

Before the Throne of God Above


Before the throne of God above I have a strong,
a perfect plea A great High Priest whose name is
Love Who ever lives and pleads for me

When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me
of the guilt within Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end to all my sin

Because the sinless Savior died my sinful
soul is counted free For God the Just is
satisfied to look on Him and pardon me To look on Him and pardon me

Before the throne of God, I come
Before the throne of God, I come

Behold Him there, the risen Lamb my perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I Am, the King of glory and of grace

My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in Heaven, He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart

One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased with His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high
With Christ my Savior and my God
With Christ my Savior and my God

 

[christiana]

This hymn never fails to bring me to tears. So moving, humbling!

Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Wonderful, merciful Savior
Precious Redeemer and Friend
Who would have thought that a Lamb
Could rescue the souls of men
Oh you rescue the souls of men

Counselor, Comforter, Keeper
Spirit we long to embrace
You offer hope when our hearts have
Hopelessly lost the way
Oh, we've hopelessly lost the way

You are the One that we praise
You are the One we adore
You give the healing and grace
Our hearts always hunger for
Oh, our hearts always hunger for

Almighty, infinite Father
Faithfully loving Your own
Here in our weakness You find us
Falling before Your throne
Oh, we're falling before Your throne

 

[JonathanHunt]

I completely disagree with you on 'In Christ Alone', Michael. It is vastly more than a 'patchy praise chorus'. It bears no comparison with most of the vapid nonsense from the Charismatic stable. Stuart Townend is the finest current British Hymnwriter aside from W Vernon Higham.

Anyway, here is what we are singing this Lord's Day:

Morning:

1.
O praise our God today:
Come, let us haste to pay
Due thanks and homage to our King.
Bid every power awake, and cheerful music make,
While grateful hearts their tributes bring.

O, praise our God today:
All who have served Him say
How kind and good are all His ways.
He is a Friend in need, He is a Friend indeed;
Come, now, your grateful worship raise.

O, praise our God today:
Let children all obey,
And, as of old, Hosannas sing;
The Saviour now, as then, will surely listen when
With earnest praise their voices ring.

O, praise our God today:
Nor till tomorrow stay,
For hours and days are passing fast;
This evening’s setting sun, may find our work undone,
And tell us that our day is past.

O, praise our God today:
Our loved ones gone away
Now sing in yonder world of light;
Come, join the heavenly song, come, join the ransomed throng
Who praise Him ceaseless day and night.

Robert Walmsley, 1831-1905


2.

Psalm 139

Lord, Thou hast searched me, and dost know
Where’er I rest, where’er I go;
Thou knowest all that I have planned,
And all my ways are in Thy hand.
My words from Thee I cannot hide;
I feel Thy power on every side.

O wondrous knowledge, awful might,
Unfathomed depth, unmeasured height!
Where can I go apart from Thee,
Or whither from Thy presence flee?
In Heaven? - it is Thy dwelling fair;
In death’s abode? - lo, Thou art there.

If I the wings of morning take,
And far away my dwelling make,
The hand that leads me, still is Thine,
And my support Thy power divine;
If deepest darkness cover me,
The darkness hideth not from Thee.

To Thee both night and day are bright,
The darkness shineth as the light.
All that I am I owe to Thee;
Thy wisdom, Lord, has fashioned me;
I give my Maker humblest praise,
Whose wondrous works my soul amaze.

The Psalter, 1912

3. (for the children)

O, the love that drew salvation’s plan!
O, the grace that brought it down to man!
O, the mighty gulf that God did span - at Calvary!
Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty - at Calvary!

William Reed Newell, 1868-1956

4.

Thy presence, gracious God, afford
Prepare us to receive Thy Word:
Now let Thy voice engage our ear,
And faith be mixed with what we hear.

Open our hearts, O Lord, and bless,
And crown Thy gospel with success.

Distracting thoughts and cares remove,
And fix our minds and hopes above;
With food divine may we be fed,
And satisfied with living bread.

To us the sacred Word apply,
With sovereign power and energy;
So may we, moved in faith and fear,
Take to our case the things we hear;

Father, to us, Thy Son reveal,
Teach us to know and do Thy will,
Thy saving power and love display,
And guide us to the realms of day.

John Fawcett, 1739-1817

5.

Lord, I confess to Thee
Sadly my sin;
All I have done and said,
All I have been:
Purge Thou my sin away,
Wash Thou my soul this day;
Fit me for Heaven, I pray -
Lord, make me clean.

Faithful and kind art Thou,
Forgiving all;
Low at Thy pierced feet,
Saviour I fall.
O, let the cleansing blood,
For helpless sinners shed,
Blood of the Lamb of God,
Wash o’er my soul.

Then all is peace and light
This soul within;
Thus shall I walk with Thee,
Saviour unseen;
Leaning on Thee, my God,
Guided along the road,
In pathways Thou hast trod,
Nothing between.

Horatius Bonar, 1808-89 (edited by me)


And for the evening:


1.

The God of Abraham praise,
Who reigns enthroned above,
Ancient of everlasting days,
And God of love.
Jehovah, great I AM!
By earth and Heaven confessed;
We bow and bless the sacred name,
For ever blessed.

The God of Abraham praise,
At whose supreme command
From earth we rise, and seek the joys
At His right hand;
We all on earth forsake,
Its wisdom, fame, and power;
And Him our only portion make,
Our shield and tower.

The God of Abraham praise,
Whose all-sufficient grace
Shall guide us all our happy days,
In all our ways:
He is our faithful Friend;
He is our gracious God;
And He will save us to the end,
Through Jesus’ blood.

He by Himself has sworn,
We on His oath depend:
We shall, on eagles’ wings upborne,
To Heaven ascend;
We shall behold His face,
We shall His power adore,
And sing the wonders of His grace
For evermore.

There dwells the Lord our King,
The Lord our Righteousness!
Triumphant o’er the world and sin,
The Prince of Peace.
On Zion’s sacred height,
His kingdom He maintains;
And glorious with His saints in light,
For ever reigns!

The whole triumphant host
Give thanks to God on high:
‘Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!’
They ever cry.
Hail, Abraham’s God and ours!
We join the heavenly lays
And celebrate with all our powers
His endless praise.

Thomas Olivers, 1725-99


2.

And must I part with all I have,
My dearest Lord, for Thee?
It is but right, since Thou hast done
Much more than this for me

Yes, let it go! One look from Thee
Will more than make amends
For all the losses I sustain
Of honour, riches, friends.

Ten thousand worlds, ten thousand lives,
How worthless they appear,
Compared with Thee, my sovereign Lord,
Supremely high and dear!

Saviour of souls, should I from Thee
A single smile obtain,
Though destitute of all things else,
I’ll glory in my gain.

Benjamin Beddome, 1717-95

3.

Strangers and exiles on the earth
We seek a country yet above;
Awaiting our eternal rest,
We hope in God’s unfailing love.
Assembled with unnumbered saints,
Enrolled in heaven through Jesus’ blood;
By faith Jerusalem is our home,
The city of the living God.

2. Our God is making all things new:
Heaven and earth will pass away,
The holy city shall descend,
Christ’s bride clothed for her wedding day.
Into her gates will nations flow,
Death, sorrow, pain shall be no more;
In this the New Jerusalem,
We’ll serve forever and adore!

© Daniel Newman 2007

Note this hymn is new and under copyright, we are singing it (in fact we are giving it its very first singing EVER) by kind permission. It is written to the tune Jerusalem by Parry.

4.

I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me has been made known,
Nor why - unworthy as I am -
He claimed me for His own.

But ‘I know whom I have believed, and am
Persuaded that He is able to keep that which
I’ve committed unto Him against that day.’

I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Or how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.

I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.

I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me -
Of weary ways or golden days
Before His face I see.

I know not when my Lord may come;
I know not how, nor where;
If I shall pass the vale of death,
Or meet Him in the air.

Daniel Webster Whittle, 1840-1901



***********************

There ya go. We're singing from hymnsheets because only two of the eight hymns here are actually in our hymnbook. I tend to alternate using a hymnbook and a hymnsheet every other LOrd's day that I preach so that we cover a decent range. ALso there isn't much based upon the Psalms in the hymnbook, and (although it doesn't show so much here) I always like to have a metrical or paraphrase in most selections.

JH

 

[Davidius]

BUT, do those who believe in EP actually believe that the Psalter from 1562/1564/1640/1650/1696/or any other year is the inspired Word of God? I think to be consistent on this, you would have to drop "metrical psalters" and sing whatever literal translation you chose, whether KJV, ESV, etc. The metrical psalters take the words of the Psalms and re-write them to make them poetic. I know they try to get as "close" to the original meaning as possible, but they, too, are the words of men (just like our confessions).

How are they the "words of men" any more than English bible translations? Based on your criteria the Psalters which we have would be no less the "word of God" than the average not-100%-literal translation. Word order has to change and some words have to be left out regardless of whether the translation becomes poetic or prosaic.

 

[Coram Deo]

Hey, I never said that... You have the wrong quote name....

BUT, do those who believe in EP actually believe that the Psalter from 1562/1564/1640/1650/1696/or any other year is the inspired Word of God? I think to be consistent on this, you would have to drop "metrical psalters" and sing whatever literal translation you chose, whether KJV, ESV, etc. The metrical psalters take the words of the Psalms and re-write them to make them poetic. I know they try to get as "close" to the original meaning as possible, but they, too, are the words of men (just like our confessions).

Right. And according to your argument we'll have to all read the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts, too, since word order changes and certain words are left out when the prose is translated into English.

 

[Davidius]

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I’ll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.

A finer song has NOT been sung!

Need one really be an Exclusive Psalmodist to see the irony here? Has a finer song really not been sung? I suppose this is what it means to be consistent in one's application. We should sing hymns because they truly are finer than the inspired, infallible prophecy of Scripture...

Hey, I never said that... You have the wrong quote name....

Hehe, I think we cross-posted...I fixed the error while you were typing this.

 

[reformedman]

The sands of time are sinking, the dawn of Heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for—the fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark hath been the midnight, but dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

O Christ, He is the fountain, the deep, sweet well of love!
The streams of earth I’ve tasted more deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Oh! Well it is forever, Oh! well forevermore,
My nest hung in no forest of all this death doomed shore:
Yea, let the vain world vanish, as from the ship the strand,
While glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

There the Red Rose of Sharon unfolds its heartsome bloom
And fills the air of heaven with ravishing perfume:
Oh! To behold it blossom, while by its fragrance fanned
Where glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

The King there in His beauty, without a veil is seen:
It were a well spent journey, though seven deaths lay between:
The Lamb with His fair army, doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Oft in yon sea beat prison My Lord and I held tryst,
For Anwoth was not heaven, and preaching was not Christ:
And aye, my murkiest storm cloud was by a rainbow spanned,
Caught from the glory dwelling in Immanuel’s land.

But that He built a Heaven of His surpassing love,
A little new Jerusalem, like to the one above,
“Lord take me over the water” hath been my loud demand,
Take me to my love’s own country, unto Immanuel’s land.

But flowers need nights cool darkness, the moonlight and the dew;
So Christ, from one who loved it, His shining oft withdrew:
And then, for cause of absence my troubled soul I scanned
But glory shadeless shineth in Immanuel’s land.

The little birds of Anwoth, I used to count them blessed,
Now, beside happier altars I go to build my nest:
Over these there broods no silence, no graves around them stand,
For glory, deathless, dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Fair Anwoth by the Solway, to me thou still art dear,
Even from the verge of heaven, I drop for thee a tear.
Oh! If one soul from Anwoth meet me at God’s right hand,
My heaven will be two heavens, In Immanuel’s land.

I’ve wrestled on towards Heaven, against storm and wind and tide,
Now, like a weary traveler that leaneth on his guide,
Amid the shades of evening, while sinks life’s lingering sand,
I hail the glory dawning from Immanuel’s land.

Deep waters crossed life’s pathway, the hedge of thorns was sharp;
Now, these lie all behind me Oh! for a well tuned harp!
Oh! To join hallelujah with yon triumphant band,
Who sing where glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

With mercy and with judgment my web of time He wove,
And aye, the dews of sorrow were lustered with His love;
I’ll bless the hand that guided, I’ll bless the heart that planned
When throned where glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

Soon shall the cup of glory wash down earth’s bitterest woes,
Soon shall the desert briar break into Eden’s rose;
The curse shall change to blessing the name on earth that’s banned
Be graven on the white stone in Immanuel’s land.

O I am my Beloved’s and my Beloved’s mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner into His “house of wine.”
I stand upon His merit—I know no other stand,
Not even where glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.

I shall sleep sound in Jesus, filled with His likeness rise,
To love and to adore Him, to see Him with these eyes:
’Tween me and resurrection but Paradise doth stand;
Then—then for glory dwelling in Immanuel’s land.

The Bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.

I have borne scorn and hatred, I have borne wrong and shame,
Earth’s proud ones have reproached me for Christ’s thrice blessed Name:
Where God His seal set fairest they’ve stamped the foulest brand,
But judgment shines like noonday in Immanuel’s land.

They’ve summoned me before them, but there I may not come,
My Lord says “Come up hither,” My Lord says “Welcome home!”
My King, at His white throne, my presence doth command
Where glory—glory dwelleth in Immanuel’s land.
​

This is the full version that I copy/pasted from cyberhymnal.org but our hymnal has only 3 or 4 of these many lines.

My favorite verse that always hits me hard is when it gets to:

The Bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.

If you want to hear the melody, listen here: The Sands of Time Are Sinking

 

[MW]

This is the full version that I copy/pasted from cyberhymnal.org but our hymnal has only 3 or 4 of these many lines.

This is my favourite uninspired hymn. The version quoted here contains all stanzas, but with a little re-arrangement. The original version may be found in the back of Samuel Rutherford's letters, complete with references to the specific letters which formed the basis of composition. And although it is sometimes attributed by various hymnals to Samuel Rutherford, it was written by the wife of a Free Church minister -- A. R. Cousin. The stanza which strikes me most is the one beginning, "With mercy and with judgment." Theological deeps! My spirit thrills at the thoughts expressed in the two successive stanzas beginning with "The King there in His beauty" and "Oh! Christ He is the Fountain."

 

[JBaldwin]

The Bride eyes not her garment, but her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory but on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth but on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory of Immanuel’s land.

Reformed man--This has been a favorite of mine for years. I can still remember the first time I heard it. An Irish gentleman from my church chose it (we didn't have a music director so the elders called out the hymns and started the congregation singing), and he stood there with tears in his eyes singing those words with all his heart. His passion for the Lord left a deep impression on me.

"I’ll Rest in Christ"
No more, my God, I boast no more
Of all the deeds that I have done;
I leave the hopes I held before
To trust the merits of Your Son.


So I’ll come to You and rest
From my so-called righteousness.
I will cease my striving and put my hope in Jesus.
Trusting in His work for me.
I’ll rest in Christ.

By sov’reign love I bear His name,
What was my gain I count my loss.
My former pride I call my shame
And nail my glory to His cross.
The finest works of my own hands
Dare not appear before Your throne:
But faith can meet Your law’s demands
For Jesus’ deeds are now my own.


"How Deep The Father's Love For Us"
How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son to make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss, the Father turns His face away,
As wounds which mar the Chosen One bring many sons to glory.

Behold the man upon a cross. My sin upon His shoulders;
Ashamed, I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers.
It was my sin that held Him there until it was accomplished;
His dying breath has brought me life - I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom;
But I will boast in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom.



“O My Soul”
O my soul, arise and bless your Maker,
for He is your Master and your friend.
Slow to wrath but rich in tender mercy; Worship the Savior Jesus.

King of grace, His love is overwhelming;
Bread of Life, He’s all I’ll ever need.
For His blood has purchased me forever bought at the cross of Jesus.

And I will sing for all my days of heaven’s love come down.
Each breath I take will speak His praise
Until He calls me home.

When I wake, I know that He is with me;
When I’m weak, I know that He is strong.
Though I fall, His arm is there to lean on; Safe on the Rock of Jesus.

Stir in me the songs that You are singing;
Fill my gaze with things as yet unseen.
Give me faith to move in works of power, making me more like Jesus.

 

[No Longer A Libertine]

Rock of Ages, not the Def Leppard song but actual hymn.

On a side note don't choirs need to be preached the gospel as well?

 

[Calvibaptist]

Rock of Ages, not the Def Leppard song but actual hymn.

On a side note don't choirs need to be preached the gospel as well?

Yeah, although I like the Def Leppard song myself, I don't think its appropriate for church.

 

[reformedman]

Thank you Rev. Winzer, I thought it was M'Cheyne who originally wrote it until I saw some lady in cyberhymnal attributed as writing it, so I was wrong.

@JBaldwin

Reformed man--This has been a favorite of mine for years. I can still remember the first time I heard it. An Irish gentleman from my church chose it (we didn't have a music director so the elders called out the hymns and started the congregation singing), and he stood there with tears in his eyes singing those words with all his heart. His passion for the Lord left a deep impression on me.

My eyes well up when I hear my congregation sing those stanzas also, not because they are out of key but because we as a congregation, are all together looking together for that blessed hope and glorious appearing, when we will see our Lord.

 

[JonathanHunt]

SOUNDING A NOTE OF CAUTION

Brethren and Sisters

Some have posted modern hymns here, which are under copyright. You should be aware that if you reproduce these lyrics, the very least you should do is credit the author and state that the work is copyright.

Now, I don't agree with hymns even being under copyright law, but they are. Several of Stuart Townend's hymns have been posted without credit here.

Let's keep the board 'above reproach'!!

 

[Calvibaptist]

SOUNDING A NOTE OF CAUTION

Brethren and Sisters

Shouldn't it be "Sisteren?"

 

[JonathanHunt]

SOUNDING A NOTE OF CAUTION

Brethren and Sisters

Shouldn't it be "Sisteren?"

**SEVERAL DISRESPECTFUL REMARKS ABOUT A PASTOR BEING SO PEDANTIC DELETED***

 

[jbergsing]

WOW! My list is too long to post here but I'll leave you a few of the better known songs:

• Amazing Grace (Still brings tears to my eyes when we sing it...)
• Grace Like Rain (Todd Agnew) ... Yes, it is a spin off of Amazing Grace. What can I say ... I like the song!
• Holy Holy Holy
• It Is Well With My Soul

 

[Calvibaptist]

SOUNDING A NOTE OF CAUTION

Brethren and Sisters

Shouldn't it be "Sisteren?"

**SEVERAL DISRESPECTFUL REMARKS ABOUT A PASTOR BEING SO PEDANTIC DELETED***

I hope you are not using Webster's third definition of pedantic:

3 : UNIMAGINATIVE, PEDESTRIAN

 

[Coram Deo]

Thats Funny, I too had to look up the word Pedantic on Webster's dictionary and was wondering the same thing....

Shouldn't it be "Sisteren?"

**SEVERAL DISRESPECTFUL REMARKS ABOUT A PASTOR BEING SO PEDANTIC DELETED***

I hope you are not using Webster's third definition of pedantic:

3 : UNIMAGINATIVE, PEDESTRIAN

 

[Archlute]

I have been enjoying the older Lutheran hymns more and more as of late. Their piety and soberness has been refreshing to my heart (although, appearantly not to the Baptists who attend the chapel, as whenever I insert a song such as "Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It" or "Amazing Grace" I receive comments like "Oh, I was so glad to sing those good old hymns today, nothing like the stuffy 'Presbyterian' hymns you usually pick...."

Some current favorites:

Great God What Do I See and Hear? The End of Things Created!

Ah Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended

Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded

Holy Ghost, Dispell Our Sadness

Oh Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High! (especially when played on a big pipe organ)

My Song is Love Unknown

Patrick's Breastplate

 

[Coram Deo]

These two among a few others were my favorites in worship before I went EP... They are now my Favorites outside of worship......

In addition to
Ah Holy Jesus, How has thou Offended
Oh Sacred Head, Now wounded

I also love outside of worship....
If Thou But Offer God to Guide Thee
The Deep Deep love of Jesus
Who is this so weak and helpless
Let all mortal flesh keep silence
Stricken, Smitten and Afflicted

and some others

Some current favorites:

Ah Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended

Oh Sacred Head, Now Wounded

 

[JBaldwin]

Jonathan--Thanks for that reminder. I'll Rest in Christ" was originally written by Isaac Watts and reworded by David Ward. "How Deep the Father's Love" And "O My Soul" were written by Stuart Townend.