IT IS WONDERFUL AND MARVELOUS

The regular readers of this blog will know that sometimes my choices are made because of the moving melody of the selection.  This is the case again this week since I love the chorus in particular, with its flowing, upbeat melody.  And the words also are special and a wonderful testimony..  In the first verse we are reminded of the peace which we experience when we yield to the Saviour's control.  The second verse reminds us of His presence during our daily walk through His marvelous grace.  As is very common in old hymns, the final verse speaks of the fellowship we will experience when we see our Lord face to face around His throne. Concluding hymns with a verse about the hope of heaven was important to the old hymn writers. And yes, what Jesus has done for our soul is marvelous and wonderful.  No words can adequately share this situation.  Once again, I could find nothing about the actual writing of this hymn except that it was penned by Mrs. Charles H. Morris (1862-1929).  I have referred to her in previous blogs noting that when her eyes began to fail in 1913, her son built a 28-foot blackboard with oversized staff lines so she could continue composing.  It is said that she authored more than 1,000 Gospel songs.  This one must have flowed from her closeness to the Lord.  Hopefully it will be a stirring reminder to you of the wonderful, marvelous experience of knowing and walking with the Lord.

(1)   The Saviour has come in His mighty Power 

And spoken peace to my soul 

And all of my life from that very hour 

I've yielded to his control {x2} 

Wonderful oh it is wonderful 

It is marvelous and wonderful 

What Jesus has done for this soul of mine 

The half has never been told 

(2)   From Glory to Glory he leads me on 

From Grace to Grace every day 

And brighter and brighter the Glory dawns 

While pressing my home ward way {x2} 

Wonderful oh it is wonderful 

It is marvelous and wonderful 

What Jesus has done for this soul of mine 

The half has never been told 

(3)    If fellowship here with my Lord can be 

So inexpressibly sweet 

Oh what will it be when his face we see 

When round the bright throne we meet (x2) 

Wonderful oh it is wonderful 

It is marvelous and wonderful 

What Jesus has done for this soul of mine 

The half has never been told  

It has been difficult to find a good video of this hymn, but here are two choices for you to try.

VIDEO 1       VIDEO 2

WHO IS A PARDONING GOD LIKE THEE?

When I was growing up hymns were an integral part of my life.  As we traveled our family would sing for long periods of time.  Those experiences, plus attending many church services, usually at least four times per week, gave me many opportunities to sing and learn the words to many great hymns.  But I must admit that during the early years it usually wasn't the words that drew me to a hymn.  More often it was the upbeat melody or some special musical feature that captured my attention.  That was brought back to me a few weeks ago when I heard this hymn which I had  not heard in many years.  But immediately I remembered the moving men's part in the chorus.  I can still hear the men singing "Who is a pardoning God like Thee? Or who has grace so rich and free? Or who has grace so rich and free?"  But now that I am older I also appreciate the great words that center around our great God and His pardon and grace.  The words were written by Samuel Davies (1723-1761).  I can't find much about the actual writing, but he was an evangelist and Presbyterian minister.. He also served a term as the fourth President of Princeton University, then known as the College of New Jersey, from 1759 to 1761. One of the first non-Anglican preachers in Virginia, he was a strong advocate for religious freedom, and helped to institute significant religious reforms in the colony. Davies was also a prolific writer, authoring several hymns and publishing a book of poetry. Musicologists credit Davies with being the first American-born hymn writer. Davies followed the lines of Isaac Watts although his verses are considered "solid, but somewhat dry and heavy".  In doing some research I found something about him that surprised me personally.  Davies was born in New Castle County, Delaware. His parents could not afford to send him to college but were determined that he should be trained for the ministry. He studied in Samuel Blair's famous school at Fagg's Manor, Chester County, Pennsylvania, and was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Castle when he was twenty-two,  For over 25 years our family had a family ministry and several times we did family programs in the Presbyterian Church in Faggs Manor. I remember the old sanctuary, especially since we had to carry all of our heavy equipment up the stairs to get  to the sanctuary.  But little did I know then, until I recently found this information, that Faggs Manor had such a rich tradition dating back over two centuries ago.  Anyway, I hope that you are challenged by the words of this week's hymn choice.

(1)     Great God of wonders! All Thy ways

Are matchless, Godlike and divine;

But the fair glories of Thy grace

More Godlike and unrivaled shine,

More Godlike and unrivaled shine.

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

(2)     Crimes of such horror to forgive,

Such guilty, daring worms to spare;

This is Thy grand prerogative,

And none shall in the honor share,

And none shall in the honor share

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

(3)     Angels and men, resign your claim

To pity, mercy, love and grace:

These glories crown Jehovah's Name

With an incomparable glaze

With an incomparable glaze.

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

(4)     In wonder lost, with trembling joy,

We take the pardon of our God:

Pardon for crimes of deepest dye,

A pardon bought with Jesus' blood,

A pardon bought with Jesus' blood.

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

(5)     O may this strange, this matchless grace,

This Godlike miracle of love,

Fill the whole earth with grateful praise,

And all th'angelic choirs above,

And all th'angelic choirs above.

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

Or who has grace so rich and free?

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

THE OLD ACCOUNT WAS SETTLED LONG AGO

If you have been a regular reader of this blog you probably know how much I enjoy old quartet music.  As a young adult I loved to sing in quartets and to go to concerts given by the Blackwoods, the Imperials, the Cathedrals, the Couriers and many more.  Recently I heard this week's hymn choice on the radio and it brought back a flood of memories.  Fortunately I was able to find numerous videos of groups singing it but as is often the case, I was able to find little about its origin.  It was written by Frank M. Graham, an ordained minister in the Wesleyan Church.  He served as District Superintendent in northern Georgia around 1895 to about 1915.  He was also the founder of Southern Wesleyan University in South Carolina.  But that is about all I could find.  Personally I have been able to avoid much financial debt in my lifetime but I do remember the burden of paying off my college loans and our home mortgage.  I can recall the sense of freedom and relief when these accounts were finally settled and I was debt free.  The same can be said about our spiritual life.  I hope that you have experienced a time when your debt of sin was taken away and your account with God was settled.  But this was even different than my financial debts because with those I just had to work to earn the money to pay them off.  But with salvation the price, a very heavy price, was paid by Jesus Christ at Calvary.  And all that we had to do to settle this account was to accept his gift, his payment for our debt.  Now if your account was not settled long ago, today it can be.  He died, was buried, and rose again for you.  Now all you must do is to believe that He did this for you and accept that free gift.  It is His mercy that doesn't make us try to pay for our sins and it is His grace that gives us His riches at His expense.  Account settled - no more debt!

(1)  There was a time on earth, 
when in the book of Heav'
An old account was standing for sins yet unforgiv'n;
My name was at the top, and many things below,
I went unto the Keeper, and settled long ago.
Long ago (down on my knees), long ago (I settled it all),

Yes, the old account was settled long ago (Hallelujah!);

And the record's clear today, 
for He washed my sins away,

When the old account was settled long ago.

(2)  The old account was large, and growing every day,

For I was always sinning, and never tried to pay;

But when I looked ahead, and saw such pain and woe,

I said that I would settle, I settled long ago.

Long ago (down on my knees), long ago (I settled it all),

Yes, the old account was settled long ago (Hallelujah!);

And the record's clear today, 
for He washed my sins away,

When the old account was settled long ago.

(3)   When in that happy home, my Savior's home above,

I'll sing redemption's story, and praise Him for His love;

I'll not forget that book, with pages white as snow,

Because I came and settled, and settled long ago.

Long ago (down on my knees), long ago (I settled it all),

Yes, the old account was settled long ago (Hallelujah!);

And the record's clear today, 
for He washed my sins away,

When the old account was settled long ago.

(4)   O sinner, trust the Lord, be cleansed of all your sin,

For thus He hath provided for you to enter in;

And then if you should live a hundred years below,

Up there you'll not regret it, you settled long ago.

Long ago (down on my knees), long ago (I settled it all),

Yes, the old account was settled long ago (Hallelujah!);

And the record's clear today, 
for He washed my sins away,

When the old account was settled long ago.

Listen to it here.   LISTEN

THE SOLID ROCK

Edward Mote was a hard working cabinet maker, and at 34 he opened his own shop. He also enjoyed writing articles and poems. As he walked to work one morning, he developed this chorus. Upon arriving at his shop, he gave instructions to his workers, and then slipped into his office to pen the words. He wrote four verses that day, and then later added two more verses before the poem was finished. He gave his local newspaper a report of the account of this hymn The Solid Rock it said: "One morning it came into my mind as I went to labor, to write an hymn on the "Gracious experience of a Christian." As I went up Holborn I had the chorus, 'On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.' In the day, I had the first four verses complete, and wrote them off. On the Sabbath following, I met Brother King as I came out of the Lisle Street Meeting who informed me that his wife was very ill, and asked me to call and see her. I had an early tea and called afterwards. He said that it was his usual custom to sing a hymn, read a portion, and engage in prayer, before he went to the meeting. He looked for his hymnbook, but could find it nowhere. I said, 'I have some verses in my pocket; if you like, we could sing them.' We did, and his wife enjoyed them so much that after the service he asked me, as a favor, to leave a copy of them for his wife. I went home, and by the fireside composed the last two verses, wrote them off, and took them to Sister King." The poem was so well received, he printed out 1,000 copies to distribute!  The music commonly used with the hymn was written by William B. Bradbury in 1863. An alternative tune sometimes used is "Melita" by John B. Dykes, which is more commonly remembered as the music to "Eternal Father, Strong to Save" or otherwise known as "The Navy Hymn." The hymn states clearly where our faith lies, on the solid rock of Jesus Christ, and His shed blood and righteous life.  In a time when change is everywhere, it is a great reminder that we can build our life and hopes on something secure, the solid rock Christ Jesus.

(1)   My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus' name.
Refrain: 
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

(2)  When darkness veils His lovely face,

I rest on His unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale,

My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

(3)  His oath, His covenant, His blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

(4)  When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in Him be found;

Dressed in His righteousness alone,

Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain: 

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand.

Listen to it being sung here.   LISTEN