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THE LYRICS OF << GREAT HYMNS _ 4 _ (ACAPELLA) >>

The hymns, on Youtube: https://youtu.be/1miBAKV-FpM

HYMNS ON YOUTUBE ON THIS PDF

1- HIGHER GROUND (I'M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY):

0:00

Pg

2- LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS:

2:35 Pg

3- EACH STEP I TAKE:

5:36 Pg

4- HIS GRACE REACHES ME:

8:14 Pg

5- RESCUE THE PERISHING:

10:34 Pg

6- IN TIMES LIKE THESE: 14:09

Pg

7- JESUS, KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS:

17:08 Pg

8- WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE:

20:17 Pg

9- ABOVE ALL ELSE:

21:54 Pg

10- WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS:

23:59 Pg

11- WHO AM I:

26:37 Pg

12- SOFTLY AND TENDERLY:

29:42 Pg

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1- HIGHER GROUND (I'M PRESSING ON THE UPWARD WAY)

1. I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining every day; Still praying as I’m onward bound, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” Refrain: Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith, on Heaven’s tableland, A higher plane than I have found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground. 2. My heart has no desire to stay Where doubts arise and fears dismay; Though some may dwell where these abound, My prayer, my aim, is higher ground. 3. I want to scale the utmost height And catch a gleam of glory bright; But still I’ll pray till heav’n I’ve found, “Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.” [By Oatman, Johnson Jr, (1856-1922). Johnson Oatman, Jr., son of Johnson and Rachel Ann Oatman, was born near Medford, N. J., April 21, 1856. His father was an excellent singer, and it always delighted the son to sit by his side and hear him sing the songs of the church. For many years he was engaged with his father in the mercantile business at Lumberton, N. J., under the firm name of Johnson Oatman & Son. Since the death of his father, he has for the past fifteen years been in the life insurance business, having charge of the business of one of the great companies in Mt. Holly, N. J., where he resides. He has written over three thousand hymns, and no gospel song book is considered as being complete unless it contains some of his hymns. In 1878 he married Wilhelmina Reid, of Lumberton, N.J. and had three children, Rachel, Miriam, and Percy. Excerpted from Biography of Gospel Song and Hymn Writers by Jacob Henry Hall; Fleming H. Revell, Co. 1914. (hymnary.org)]

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2. LIKE A RIVER GLORIOUS 1 Like a river, glorious Is God’s perfect peace, Over all victorious In its bright increase; Perfect, yet it floweth Fuller every day, Perfect, yet it groweth Deeper all the way. Refrain: Stayed upon ( Christ Jesus ), Hearts are fully blest; Finding, as He promised, Perfect peace and rest. 2 Hidden in the hollow Of His blessed hand, Never foe can follow, Never traitor stand; Not a surge of worry, Not a shade of care, Not a blast of hurry Touch the spirit there. 3 Every joy or trial Falleth from above, Traced upon our dial By the Sun of Love.

We may trust Him fully All for us to do; They who trust Him wholly Find Him wholly true. [Frances Ridely Havergal (1836-1879). She is also the author of ‘’Take my life and let it be’’]

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3. EACH STEP I TAKE 1 Each step I take my Saviour goes before me, And with His loving hand He leads the way, And with each breath I whisper "I adore Thee;" Oh, what joy to walk with Him each day. Refrain: Each step I take I know that He will guide me; To higher ground He ever leads me on. Until some day the last step will be taken. Each step I take just leads me closer home. 2 At times I feel my faith begin to waver, When up ahead I see a chasm wide. It's then I turn and look up to my Saviour, I am strong when He is by my side. 3 I trust in God, no matter come what may, For life eternal in His hand, He holds the key that opens up the way, That will lead me to the promised land.

[By W. Elmo Mercer]

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4- HIS GRACE REACHES ME

1 Deeper than the ocean and wider than the sea, Is the grace of the Savior for sinners like me; Sent from the Father and it thrills my soul, Just to feel and to know That His blood makes me whole. Refrain: His grace reaches me Yes His grace, reaches me And 'twill last thru eternity; Now I'm under His control And I'm happy in my soul, Just to know that His grace reaches me. 2 Higher than the mountains and brighter than the sun, It was offered at Calvary for everyone; Greatest of treasures and it's mine today, Though my sins were as scarlet, He has washed them away. [By Jewell M. Whitey Gleason]

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5- RESCUE THE PERISHING 1 Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, snatch them in pity from sin and the grave; weep o'er the erring one, lift up the fallen, tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save. Refrain: Rescue the perishing, care for the dying; Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save. 2 Though they are slighting Him, still He is waiting, waiting the penitent child to receive; plead with them earnestly, plead with them gently. He will forgive if they only believe. 3 Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter, feelings lie buried that grace can restore; touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness, chords that are broken will vibrate once more. 4 Rescue the perishing, duty demands it. Strength for thy labor the Lord will provide; back to the narrow way patiently win them, tell the poor wanderer a Savior has died. [Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915), was the author of over 8,500 gospel songs. Though blind at 6 weeks of age, Crosby began composing texts at age 6. She later became a teacher at the New York School for the Blind,

where she was a student. A friend of several presidents, Crosby became one of the most important advocates for the cause of the blind in the United States. The famous evangelist Dwight L. Moody was said to have asked Crosby the following question toward the end of her life: “If you could have just one wish granted, what would it be?” Moody expected her to ask for sight. Sensing this she is said to have replied, “If I could have one wish, I’d wish that I might continue blind the rest of my life.” Moody was taken back and asked, “How can you say that?” Crosby was said to have responded, “Because, after being blind for all these years, the first face I want to see now is the face of Jesus.” (umcdiscipleship.org)]

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6- IN TIMES LIKE THESE 1 In times like these you need a Savior, In times like these you need an anchor; Be very sure, be very sure, Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! Refrain 1: This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One, This Rock is Jesus, the only One; Be very sure, be very sure, Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! 2 In times like these you need the Bible, In times like these, O be not idle; Be very sure, be very sure, Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! (Refrain 1) 3 In times like these I have a Savior, In times like these I have an anchor;

I'm very sure, I'm very sure My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! Refrain 2: This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One, This Rock is Jesus, the only One; I'm very sure, I'm very sure, Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock! [By Ruth Caye Jones, (1902-1972). A self taught pianist and organist, Ruth married Bert Jones, and together they worked in the evangelism field. In 1948, they founded a radio ministry in Erie, Pennsylvania, broadcasting a weekly family devotional program from their home called "A Visit with the Jones." (hymnary.org)]

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7- JESUS, KEEP ME NEAR THE CROSS 1 Jesus, keep me near the cross, There a precious fountain; Free to all, a healing stream, Flows from Calv'ry's mountain. Refrain: In the cross, in the cross Be my glory ever, Till my ransomed soul shall find Rest beyond the river. 2 Near the cross, a trembling soul, Love and mercy found me; There the Bright and Morning Star Shed His beams around me.

3 Near the cross! O lamb of God, Bring its scenes before me; Help me walk from day to day With its shadow o'er me. 4 Near the cross! I'll watch and wait, Hoping, trusting ever; Till I reach the golden strand, Just beyond the river. [By Fanny J. Crosby (1820-1915)]

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8- WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE 1 Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life; let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life; words of life and beauty, teach me faith and duty: Refrain: Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life; Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life. 2

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all wonderful words of life; sinner, list to the laving call, wonderful words of life; all so freely given, wooing us to heaven: 3 Sweetly echo the gospel call, wonderful words of life; offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life; Jesus, only Savior, sanctify forever, [By Philip P. Bliss (1838-1876). Bliss is well known from his work with the evangelistic revival meetings of the mid-nineteenth century with leaders such as Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899) and Daniel Webster “Major” Whittle (1840-1901). Bliss and his wife, Lucy, both joined these revival meetings as singers, leading the songs of what would be known as the gospel era of hymnody. This genre of hymnody was itself named from collections Bliss compiled with Ira D. Sankey (1840-1908), with titles such as Gospel Hymns and Sacred Songs and Gospel Hymns No. 2. The Blisses defined the era with a life on the road as traveling evangelists with their colleagues for many years to come. Most of these worship services took place in the midwestern and the southern United States, and they served as the framework within which Bliss wrote his hymn texts and tunes. Before these evangelistic endeavors, however, Bliss had an interesting life as a child and young adult. Born in Pennsylvania, the industrious boy spent his early years working and learning, and he received training in music from teachers such as William B. Bradbury (1816-1868), whose well-known tunes include JESUS LOVES ME and HE LEADETH ME. Bliss eventually took on the roles of itinerant music teacher, composer, and editor.]

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9- ABOVE ALL ELSE …

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10- WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS

1 When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died, my richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride. 2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast save in the death of Christ, my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through his blood. 3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down. Did e'er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown? 4 Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a present far too small. Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all. [By Isaac Watts (1674-1748). This hymn is particularly powerful because it includes many poetic devices. For example, oxymoron is found twice in the first stanza: “my richest gain I count but loss” and “pour contempt on all my pride.” The third stanza contains a paradox in a crown of thorns, and there are two rhetorical questions in the second half of this stanza: “Did e’er such love and sorrow met, or thorns compose so rich a crown?” The piece ends with a climax, “Demands my soul, my life, my all.” “When I Survey” is a hymn which is saturated with theology and a call for an emotional response from the singer. This hymn was transformed into a statement of faith that crosses denominational lines and generations. According to hymn scholar Lionel Adey, the lines “‘All the vain things that charm me most / I sacrifice them . . .’ have a meaning personal to each singer, one that might require either action or renunciation.” The three pledges at the climax of the hymn (“my soul, my life, my all”) are a sacrifice that had once been required only of those taking monastic vows. The theology of this hymn functions powerfully in the context of a worship service. Adey continues: “About to receive the Sacrament, the poet meditates upon the love that turned that instrument of judicial torture and death into the channel of divine compassion.” This hymn is a masterpiece that marks the genius of one man and his influence on millions of singers throughout the ages. As Dr. Young says, the hymn “successfully built a bridge from psalmody to hymnody and set the church free to create a living body of Christian praise in song.”(umcdiscipleship.org)]

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11- WHO AM I 1 Oh When I think of how He left His home in glory Came and dwell among the lowly such as I To suffer shame and such disgrace On Mount Calvary take my place Then I ask myself a question Who am I? 2 Who am I that the King would bleed and die for? Who am I that He would pray ‘’not my will, Thine’’ for? The answer I may never know Why He ever loved me so But to that old rugged cross He'd go For who am I? 3 Who am I that the King would bleed and die for? Who am I that He would pray ‘’not my will, Thine’’ for? The answer I may never know Why He ever loved me so But to that old rugged cross He'd go For who am I? For who am I? Romans 5:6-8 << For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. >>

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12- SOFTLY AND TENDERLY 1 Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me; see, on the portals he's watching and waiting, watching for you and for me. Refrain: Come home, come home; Ye who are weary come home; earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling, calling, O sinner, come home! 2 Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, pleading for you and for me? Why should we linger and heed not his mercies, mercies for you and for me? 3 O for the wonderful love he has promised, promised for you and for me! Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon, pardon for you and for me. [ By Will Lamartine Thompson (1847-1909). Perhaps Revelation 3:20 captures the spirit of the hymn: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (KJV) This patient Jesus stands “on the portals . . . waiting and watching . . . for you and for me.” Will Lamartine Thompson was born in Pennsylvania and died in New York City. He attended Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio, and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, before continuing his musical studies in Leipzig, Germany. In addition to being a composer of secular, patriotic and gospel songs, Thompson was a music publisher. When his songs were rejected by publishers of his day, he formed his own enterprise, Will L. Thompson & Company, with offices in Chicago and East Liverpool, Ohio. By the 1880s the company expanded beyond publishing music and sold pianos, organs and other instruments and supplies. The words and music for “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” first appeared in Sparkling Gems, Nos. 1 and 2, a collection compiled for Thompson’s company in 1880 by singing-school teacher J. Calvin Bushey. Other well-known gospel songs by Thompson include “Jesus Is All the World to Me” (UM Hymnal, No. 469), and two with strong eschatological leanings, Lead Me Gently Home, Father” and “There’s a Great Day Coming.”

'Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling' was used during the memorial service for assassinated civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on April 8, 1968. (umcdiscipleship.org)] [Dwight L. Moody, the most famous evangelist of his day, used "Softly and Tenderly" as an invitation hymn in his meetings. Thompson visited Moody as the latter was dying, and Moody told him, "Will, I would rather have written 'Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling' than anything I have been able to do in my life" –– quite a tribute from someone as accomplished as Moody. Even though he became quite rich, Thompson continued to live a life of service. He supported various civic and religious activities generously. He was also aware of the fact that small town people had very little exposure to good music, so he loaded a piano on a horse-drawn wagon and went through small Ohio towns giving concerts of his music. (hishymnhistory.blogspot.com.ng)]

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