of Psalm 23 in this hymn has raised some eyebrows over the years with its apparent contempt for the ‘green pastures’ and ‘still waters’ of the biblical source. In reality, the original psalm does not recommend the quiet life over one of righteous struggle.
Father, hear the prayer we offer;
Not for ease that prayer shall be, But for strength that we may ever Live our lives courageously.
Not for ever in green pastures
Do we ask our way to be; But the steep and rugged pathway May we tread rejoicingly.
Not for ever by still waters
Would we idly rest and stay; But would smite the living fountains From the rocks along our way.
Be our strength in hours of weakness,
In our wanderings be our guide; Through endeavour, failure, danger, Father, be Thou at our side.
Love Maria Willis (1824-1908)
Sir Henry Sidney served two terms as Lord Deputy of Ireland but is usually remembered today as the father of the celebrated soldier-poet Sir Philip Sidney. His parental advice, offered in a letter to his son while he was at school in Shrewsbury in 1556, has been much repeated over the centuries.
Son Philip,
I have received two letters from you, one written in Latin, the other in French: which I take in good part, and will you to exercise that practice of learning often; for that will stand you in most stead in that profession of life that you are born to live in. And now, since this is my first letter that I ever did write to you, I will not that it be all empty of some advice which my natural care of you provoketh me to wish you to follow, as documents to you in this your tender age.
Let your first action be the lifting up of your mind to Almighty God by hearty prayer; and feelingly digest the words you speak in prayer, with continual meditation and thinking of Him to whom you pray, and of the matter for which you pray. And use this as an ordinary act, and at an ordinary hour; whereby the time itself shall put you in remembrance to do that you are accustomed to do in that time.
Apply your study to such hours as your discreet master doth assign you earnestly…And mark the sense and the matter of that you do read as well as the words; so shall you both enrich your tongue with words and your wit with matter, and judgment will grow as years grow in you. Be humble and obedient to your masters, for, unless you frame yourself to obey others – yea, and feel in yourself what obedience is, you shall never be able to teach others to obey you. Be courteous of gesture and affable to all men, with diversity of reverence according to the dignity of the person; there is nothing that winneth so much with so little cost.
Use moderate diet so as, after your meal, you may find your wit fresher, and not duller, and your body lively and not more heavy. Seldom drink wine, and yet sometimes do, lest, being enforced to drink upon the sudden you should not find yourself enflamed. Use exercise of body; yet such as is without peril to your bones or joints.
Above all things tell no untruth; no, not in trifles. The custom of it is naughty…For there cannot be a greater reproach to a gentleman than to be accounted a liar. Study and endeavour yourself to be virtuously occupied. So shall you make such a habit of well-doing in you as you shall not know how to do evil, though you would.
Your Loving father, so long as you fear God.
Sir Henry Sidney (1529-86)
The work of John Monsell, Rector of St Nicholas in Guildford, this hymn has remained one of the most popular rallying cries of the Christian church, particularly associated with the Salvation Army. Monsell himself literally gave his life in the service of his calling, dying in an accident while inspecting repairs to the roof of his church. He was a great believer in providing rousing tunes for public worship and criticized the reserve of much church music. His other hymns include ‘0 worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness’.
Fight the good fight with all thy might!
Christ is thy strength and Christ thy right; Lay hold on life, and it shall be Thy joy and crown eternally.
Run the straight race through God’s good grace,
Lift up thine eyes, and seek His face; Life with its way before us lies; Christ is the path, and Christ the prize.
Cast care aside, lean on thy guide;
His boundless mercy will provide; Trust, and thy trusting soul shall prove Christ is its life, and Christ its love.
Faint not nor fear, His arms are near;
He changeth not, and thou art dear; Only believe, and thou shalt see That Christ is all in all to thee.
John Samuel Bewley Monsell (1811-75)
A popular choice for All Hallows, but also heard at other times throughout the year, this hymn was the work of William Walsham How, Bishop of East London and later of Wakefield. How was particularly renowned for not resting from his labours, working hard for his parishioners in London’s East End and being nicknamed the ‘Omnibus Bishop’ because he travelled everywhere by bus. The hymn is sung to Ralph Vaughan Williams’ ‘Sine Nomine’.
For all the saints who from their labours rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesu, be for ever blest. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might,
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well-fought fight; Thou in the darkness drear their one true light. Alleluia! Alleluia!
O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, And win, with them, the victor’s crown of gold. Alleluia! Alleluia!
O blest communion! Fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine. Alleluia! Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph-song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia! Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest: Sweet is the calm of paradise the blest. Alleluia! Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array: The King of glory passes on His way. Alleluia! Alleluia!
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