Through The Hymnbook

Bert Jones: The chimes are ringing. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Songsperation the canary is singing, and we're so glad to welcome you to the organ loft to enjoy that special time we entitle Through the Hymnbook. The program, the series has been a blessing to many through the years, and we are grateful that even though Reverend Bert Jones, the organist, is with the Lord, his music continues to inspire all of us. This is going to be a very interesting edition of Through the Hymnbook.

Looking through the hymnbook for songs that are written on two staves of music. Now, by and large, most hymns take four staves of music. That's the whole line of music going across showing soprano, alto, tenor, and bass. Most hymns tend to use four of those. Once in a while, there'll be a hymn with only three.

And then we have quite a few hymns with just two, two staves of music. So we're going through the book looking for songs that only have two of those whole lines of music, properly called a staff. This idea comes to our Through the Hymnbook production center from Mr. David Henning, who lives in Ohio. David enjoys Through the Hymnbook very, very much. He thought it would be fun to go through the hymnbook looking for songs with two staves of music.

Here's a great hymn written by William Cowper, who wrote "There is a Fountain Filled with Blood." He is renowned in English literature, and he wrote, "God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. He plants His footsteps in the sea, and He rides upon the storm."

Here's a great hymn written on two staves of music. "Sun of my soul, Thou Savior dear, it is not night if Thou art near."

These small hymns written on two staves of music are little gems, and I hope you are knowing them. I hope you do know them. Here's one with what beautiful words. "How gentle God's commands, how kind His precepts are. Come, cast your burdens on the Lord and trust His constant care."

Why should this anxious load press down your weary mind? Haste to your heavenly Father's throne and sweet refreshment find. His goodness stands approved down to the present day. I'll drop my burden at His feet and bear a song away. I hope you know this beautiful hymn, "How Gentle God's Commands."

That beautiful hymn tune called Dennis is also used for "Blest Be the Tie That Binds our hearts in Christian love."

Sometimes these small hymns on two lines, two staves, get forgotten, so that's why I'm reading the words. Here's one that's a special favorite with our family. "When all Thy mercies, O my God, my rising soul surveys, transported with the view, I'm lost in wonder, love, and praise."

"Unnumbered comforts to my soul Thy tender care bestowed, before my infant heart conceived from whom these comforts flowed. Through every period of my life Thy goodness I'll pursue, and after death in distant worlds Thy glorious theme renew."

When all Thy mercies, O my God, I review, I can only praise the Lord who has bestowed these mercies.

Little gems, that's what I call them, these hymns written on two staves of music. And this suggestion was sent to me by my faithful listener, Mr. David Henning, who lives in Minerva, Ohio. Thanks to David.

Don't overlook these two-staff hymns because they are very special. Here's one I hope you know; the words are very special. "God, who touchest earth with beauty, make me lovely too. With Thy Spirit re-create me, make my heart anew. Like Thy springs in running waters, make me crystal pure. Like Thy rocks of towering grandeur, make me strong and sure."

"Like Thy dancing waves in sunlight, make me glad and free. Like the straightness of the pine trees, let me upright be. Let the arching of the heavens lift my thoughts above. Turn my dreams to noble action, ministries of love. God, who touchest earth with beauty, make me lovely too. Keep me ever by Thy Spirit pure and strong and true." Isn't that great? Beautiful message.

This should be the camper's hymn. When you go camping, take this song with you. And as you see the beauties of nature, relate them to your spiritual lives.

Here's another two-line hymn. "O Master, let me walk with Thee in lowly paths of service free." This is a beautiful hymn to be sung at a wedding, particularly if it's a young couple going into Christian service. And as they kneel to pray, the singer sings, "O Master, let us walk with Thee in lowly paths of service free."

I first got that idea from my aunt and uncle, Bishop and Mrs. Raymond Archer, who served on the mission fields of the world for 46 years. And this was sung at their wedding, and they suggested it to many others.

Maybe I should read those words; it's a very familiar hymn to me, but maybe some people don't know it. And you should know this because it's a very old hymn from the 11th century, an old Latin hymn. "Jesus, the very thought of Thee with sweetness fills my breast. But sweeter far Thy face to see and in Thy presence rest."

"Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, nor can the memory find a sweeter sound than Thy blest name, O Savior of mankind. Jesus, our only joy be Thou, as Thou our prize wilt be. Jesus, be Thou our glory now and through all eternity." And we'll hear it sort of on a carillon sound on the organ.

Have you ever been looking for a definition of prayer? Well, a beautiful, beautiful definition for prayer is given in this hymn by James Montgomery from early in the 1800s. "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire." What is prayer? Listen to these words.

"Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, unuttered 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."

"Prayer is the Christian's vital breath, the Christian's native air. His watchword at the gates of death, he enters heaven with prayer."