I am in a series of hymns on the Christian life aside from the Advent and Lenten seasons. Last week I wrote about hymns of the church, or hymns of ecclesiology, where we explored great hymns like “The Church’s One Foundation” and “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation.” These hymns share the truths of who the church is, and the relationship between Christ and his bride.
This week, the theme will be hymns on perseverance. Whether you are in a season of sorrow, or you are in the everyday days, we all need hymns of perseverance to remind us in whom we live and move and have our being (Acts 17:28). When singing about perseverance in the Christian life, we remove our eyes from our current situations and restore our perspective on God’s eternality and the salvation that only He provides.
Rather than sharing entire hymns on this topic, for this week, I have chosen to share selected stanzas that focus on perseverance of the saints. This particular topic was heavily discussed among the Reformers, and the Puritans after them. Often this topic is discussed in relation to “eternal security” of salvation – if a person is truly converted, it is God who saved the person and He will never let his child go. If a person is not truly converted, then salvation was never theirs. R.C. Sproul once wrote, “True Christians can have radical and serious falls but never total and final falls from grace.” With this truth, Christians can sing about the loving-kindness of their God to save them, and the joys that are found in persevering to the end of their earthly lives.
It is my hope that these hymns will bring encouragement to your souls and help you as you walk as a pilgrim in this dry and weary land. Lift your eyes and see the coming of the Lord!
Amazing Grace, John Newton (1779)
John Newton knew what it meant to be saved by God’s amazing grace. He wrote a sermon on this theme that he delivered on January 1, 1773. Newton confessed his vile sins that he once committed before Christ saved him. Christ’s salvation was always before Newton’s eyes as he knew he never had the power to change himself. In this particular sermon, Newton referenced 1 Chronicles 17:16-17 and examined David’s thankfulness for past mercies, and his hopefulness in God’s continued future mercies.
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come,
‘tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.The Lord has promised good to me,
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.
Jesus Calls Us O’er the Tumult, Cecil Frances Alexander (1852)
If this hymn is unknown to you, I’m sure other hymns by this Irish poet are more familiar. Cecil Frances Alexander also wrote “All Things Bright and Beautiful,” as well as “Once in Royal David’s City.” Like John Mason Neale from last week, she was also greatly influenced by the Oxford Movement and her first book of poetry focused on hymns encompassing the entire Christian year for children. In this particular hymn, Alexander encourages us to lift our eyes above our circumstances and focus on Christ.
Jesus calls us; o’er the tumult
of our life’s wild, restless sea;
day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
saying, “Christian, follow me.”
Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying, “Christian, love me more.”
Am I a Soldier of the Cross, Isaac Watts (1724)
Surely Isaac Watts needs no introduction for he has given us a treasury of sacred songs (“Joy to the World,” “I Sing the Almighty Power of God,” “Jesus Shall Reign,” and “O God Our Help in Ages Past,” to name a few). Watts grew up in the home of a dissenting minister in England where his parents fostered his poetic ability. Watts wrote poems from a very young age and continued to refine his craft as he grew into adulthood. Watts labored for many years versifying the psalms, placing them into standard poetic meter to be easily sung in the congregation. He included a Christological view in his psalm versifications, creating a unique book, The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, and Applied to the Christian State and Worship (1719).
Sure I must fight, if I would reign;
increase my courage, Lord;
I’ll bear the toil, endure the pain,
supported by Thy Word.Thy saints in all this glorious war
shall conquer, though they die;
they see the triumph from a far
by faith’s discerning eye.
He Who Would Valiant Be, John Bunyan (1678)
It’s always helpful to examine historic texts to know how Christians withstood the evils and atrocities of their day, which encourages us to continue in the same strength and faith. John Bunyan, imprisoned for his Christian beliefs, gave us the great Pilgrim’s Progress, the allegorical tale that follows Chrisitan on his journey of salvation and sanctification. But did you know that Bunyan also penned many poems? This particular text focuses strongly on perseverance of the saints, so here are all three stanzas:
He who would valiant be
‘gainst all disaster,
let him in constancy
follow the Master.
There’s no discouragement
shall make him once relent
his first avowed intent
to be a pilgrim.Who so beset him round
with dismal stories,
do but themselves confound—
his strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might,
though he with giants fight;
he will make good his right
to be a pilgrim.Since, Lord, Thou dost defend
us with Thy Spirit,
we know we at the end
shall life inherit.
Then, fancies, flee away!
I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day
to be a pilgrim.
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah, William Williams (1745)
William WIlliams was nicknamed the “Watts of Wales” for his mastery and craftsmanship of the written word. Although originally trained to enter the Church of England, he abandoned his Priest’s Orders in order to associate with the Calvinistic Methodists of his day. He spent his life traveling across Wales and preaching the Gospel. A few of his hymns have been translated into English from their original Welsh language.
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou are mighty;
hold me with Thy pow’rful hand.
Bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more.When I tread the verge of Jordan,
bid my anxious fears subside.
Death of death, and hell’s destruction,
land me safe on Canaan’s side.
Songs of praises,
I will ever give to Thee.
This is My Father’s World, Maltbie Babcock (1901)
Maltbie Babcock was an American Presbyterian minister who served in Maryland and New York in his lifetime. Babcock often spent time in God’s creation, which inspired the text of this particular hymn. No stranger to suffering, Babcock and his wife lost two children in infancy, and like his predecessor William Cowper, he struggled with depression periodically throughout his life. On a return trip from the Holy Land, Babcock succumbed to a brief bout of brucellosis. At his funeral, his friend stated, “We do not need a candle to show a sunbeam.” His light was infectious to others, and we today continue to enjoy the blessings of his poems.
This is my Father’s world;
O, let me not forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet. – A favorite line of mine from all hymnody
This is my Father’s world;
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King, let heavens ring!
God reigns; Let earth be glad!
This list could continue with many other beautiful hymns from many excellent poets. I hope the list here encourages you to lift your eyes off your current situation and onto the only one who can carry your faith to completion. You stand on the shoulders of the faithful men and women who walked this road before you. God’s grace has led you safe this far, and his grace will lead you home.
