Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = The Hymnal and Order of Service (1925), The Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod

Paraphrase (1924) of Psalm 139:23 and 24 by Claus August Wendell (1866-1950)

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Search me, God, and know my heart,

Lord of truth and mercy;

Try me, Thou who from afar

Knowest all my secrets;

And if any wicked way

Should be found within me,

Blessed Saviour, lead Thou me

In the way eternal.

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The Service Book and Hymnal (immediate predecessors of the American Lutheran Church [1960] and the Lutheran Church in America [1962], 1958) also contains the above text verbatim.

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The Lutheran Book of Worship (immediate predecessors of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [1987], 1978) modernizes the text and makes it the second verse of a composite hymn, with a new first verse (beginning with “Wondrous are your ways, O God!”) by Joel W. Lundeen.  The modernized version of the text by Wendell follows:

Search me, God, and know my heart,

Lord of truth and mercy.

From afar, O Lord, you know

All my thoughts and secrets.

And if any wicked way

Should be found within me,

Cleanse, forgive me by your grace;

Grant me life eternal.

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Christian Worship:  A Lutheran Hymnal (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, 1993) also modernizes the Wendell text and uses it as the second verse of a composite hymn.  However, this hymn book alters the Lundeen text.

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The text by Wendell is absent from the current Lutheran  denominational hymnals in my collection:

1. Ambassador Hymnal for Lutheran Worship (The Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, 1994),
2. Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (The Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal, 1996),
3. Worship Supplement 2000 (Church of the Lutheran Confession, 2000),
4. Evangelical Lutheran Worship (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 2006), and
5. Lutheran Service Book (The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, 2006).

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KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

JUNE 11, 2016 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINT BARNABAS THE APOSTLE, COWORKER OF SAINT PAUL THE APOSTLE

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Above:  Apotheosis of War, by Vasily Vereshchagin

Image in the Public Domain

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This is a hymn for use in time of war.  Sadly, we human beings keep acting is ways which keep the sentiments of the hymn current.

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This is one of those great Anglican contributions to English-language hymnody.

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PART THE FIRST:  THE BEGINNING

The story begins with Henry Fothergill Chorley (1808-1872), a Quaker-born novelist, playwright, libretticist, and literary and music critic in London, England, the United Kingdom.  In 1842 he published a hymn, “God, the All-Terrible! Thou Who Ordainest.”  My sources identified the the publication as having occurred in Part Music (1842), by John Pike Hullah (1812-1884).  A search at hymnary.org led me to my reprint of the Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes (Henry Ward Beecher, Plymouth Congregational Church, Brooklyn, New York, 1855), where I found these verses:

1.  God, the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest

Thunder Thy clarion, and lightning Thy sword;

Show forth Thy pity on high where Thou reignest,

Give to us peace in our time, O Lord.

2.  God, the Omnipotent! mighty Avenger,

Watching invisible, judging unheard;

Save us in mercy, O save us from danger,

Give to us peace in our time, O Lord.

3.  God, the all-merciful! earth hath forsaken

Thy ways all holy, and slighted Thy word;

But not Thy wrath in its terror awaken,

Give to us pardon and peace, O Lord.

4.  So will Thy people with thankful devotion,

Praise Him who saved them from peril and sword;

Shouting in chorus, from ocean to ocean,

Peace to the nations, and praise to the Lord.

(Hymn #1101)

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PART THE SECOND:  UNITARIANS DURING THE CIVIL WAR

Hymns of the Spirit (American Unitarian Association, 1864), included an abbreviated and different version of the text, starting with the second stanza.  Thus the hymn became “God, the Omnipotent! Mighty Avenger!”  The context of the U.S. Civil War was evident:

1.  God the Omnipotent! mighty Avenger!

Watching invisible, judging unheard!

Save Thou our land in the hour of her danger,

Give to us peace in Thy time, O Lord!

2.  Thunder and lightnings Thy judgment have sounded;

Letters of flame have recorded Thy word,

‘Only in righteousness true peace is founded’:

Give us that peace in Thy time, O Lord!

3.  So shall the people, with thankful devotion,

Praise Him who saved them from peril and sword;

Shouting in chorus, from ocean to ocean,–

‘Peace to the nation, and praise to the Lord!’

(Hymn #262)

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PART THE THIRD:  ENTER JOHN ELLERTON

In 1870, during the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871), John Ellerton (1826-1893), a priest of The Church of England and author of no fewer than 86 hymns, wrote “God the Almighty One, Wisely Ordaining,” based on Chorley’s hymn.  The text debuted in Robert Brown-Borthwick’s Select Hymns for Church and Home (The Church of England, 1871).  I found the original version of that hymn via Google Books.

1.  God the Almighty One, wisely ordaining

Judgments unsearchable, famine and sword;

Over the tumult of war Thou are reigning;

Give to us peace in our time, O Lord!

2.  God the All-righteous One! man hath defied Thee;

Yet to eternity standeth Thy word;

Falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside Thee;

Give to us peace in our time, O Lord!

3.  God the All-pitiful, is it not crying,

Blood of the guiltless like water outpoured?

Look on the anguish, the sorrow, the sighing;

Give to us peace in our time, O Lord!

4.  God, the All-wise! by the fire of Thy chastening

Earth shall to freedom and truth be restored;

Through the thick darkness Thy kingdom is hast’ning,

Thou wilt give peace in Thy time, O Lord!

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PART THE FOURTH:  THE JOINING AND SUBSEQUENT VARIATIONS AND ALTERATIONS

The first joining of the Chorley and Ellerton texts occurred in the 1874 revision of Church Hymns (The Church of England, 1871), as one can read for oneself by following the hyperlink and seeking hymn #262.  Since then many hymnals have contained various composites of the Chorley and Ellerton texts, frequently with alterations to them.  The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) contained the hymn, but listed it as “God, Lord of Sabaoth, Thou Who Ordainest.”  The hymn was “God the All-Merciful! Earth Hath Forsaken” in the Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church (1917) but “God the Omnipotent! King, Who Ordainest” in the Service Book and Hymnal (1958).  The influential Hymnal (Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., 1895) and its successor from 1911 listed the hymn as “God, the All-Terrible,” but The Hymnal (1933) changed the title to “God the Omnipotent.”  Among more conservative Presbyterians (especially in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church in America) who use either the 1961 or the 1990 versions of the Trinity Hymnal, God remains “All-terrible.”  God was “All-terrible” in The Methodist Hymnal (Methodist Episcopal Church and Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1905), but “Omnipotent” in The Methodist Hymnal of 1935 (Methodist Episcopal Church, Methodist Protestant Church, and Methodist Episcopal Church, South; later The Methodist Church, 1939-1968).  As late as The Hymnal of 1918 (Episcopal Church, authorized in 1916) God was “All-Terrible,” but the deity was “Omnipotent” instead in The Hymnal 1940 (published in 1943).  The consensus among hymnal committees is that God is “Omnipotent,” not “All-terrible.”

The variation on the hymn in The Hymnal 1982 (Episcopal Church, 1985) contains four stanzas–two from Chorley, two from Ellerton, and all of them altered.  This is the version I sing in church:

1.  God the Omnipotent! King, who ordainest

thunder thy clarion, the lightning thy sword;

show forth thy pity on high where thou reignest:

give to us peace in our time, O Lord.

2.  God the All-merciful! earth hath forsaken

thy ways all holy, and slighted thy word;

bid not thy wrath in its terrors awaken:

give to us peace in our time, O Lord.

3.  God, the All-righteous One! earth hath defied thee;

yet eternity standeth thy word,

falsehood and wrong shall not tarry beside thee:

give to us peace in our time, O Lord.

4.  God the All-provident! earth by thy chastening

yet shall to freedom and truth be restored;

through the thick darkness thy kingdom is hastening:

thou wilt give peace in thy time, O Lord.

Hymn writer Brian Wren (1936-) wrote of hymns in Praying Twice:  The Music and Words of Congregational Song (Louisville, KY:  Westminster John Knox Press, 2000, page 297):

I have shown that congregational songs are communal.  Though they usually originate from particular authors, their primary purpose is to give shared expression to shared experience, not parade the author’s personality.  Because they are communal a faith community may, in principle amend them.

The story of “God the Omnipotent!” fits that statement well.

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PART THE FIFTH:  DROPPING THE HYMN

Denominations revise their official hymnals from time to time.  In so doing they add some texts and remove others.  Here is a partial list of denominations which have removed “God the Omnipotent!” (however they have listed it) from their official hymnody as of 2015, based on hymnals of which I own physical copies:

1. the American Baptist Churches U.S.A., during their transition from the Hymnbook for Christian Worship (1970) to no official hymnal;
2. the Anglican Church of Canada, during the transition from The Hymn Book of the Anglican Church of Canada and the United Church of Canada (1971) to Common Praise (1998);
3. the Evangelical Covenant Church of America, during the transition from The Covenant Hymnal (1973) to The Covenant Hymnal:  A Worshipbook (1996);
4. the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, during the transition from the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) to Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006);
5. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod, during the transition from The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) to the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (1996);
6. the Free Methodist Church of North America and the Wesleyan Church, during their transition from Hymns of Faith and Life (1976) to no official hymnal;
7. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, during its transition from The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) to Lutheran Worship (1982) and the Lutheran Service Book (2006);
8. the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), by way of its predecessors, the Presbyterian Church in the United States and The United Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., during the transition from The Hymnbook (1955) to The Worshipbook–Services and Hymns (1972);
9. the Reformed Church in America, during its transition from Rejoice in the Lord:  A Hymn Companion to the Scriptures (1985) to Lift Up Your Hearts:  Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs (2013);
10. the Southern Baptist Convention, during the transition from Baptist Hymnal (1956) to Baptist Hymnal (1975); the text is absent even from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship‘s Celebrating Grace Hymnal (2010);
11. the Unitarian Universalist Association, sometime after Hymns of the Spirit (American Unitarian Association, 1864) and before Hymns of the Spirit (American Unitarian Association and Universalist Church of America, 1937);
12. The United Methodist Church, during its transition from The Hymnal of the Evangelical United Brethren Church (1957) and The Methodist Hymnal/The Book of Hymns (1966) to The United Methodist Hymnal:  Book of United Methodist Worship (1992); and
13. the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, during the transition from The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) to Christian Worship:  A Lutheran Hymnal (1993); neither is the hymn present in Christian Worship:  Supplement (2008).

That list covers a wide theological range.  So does the list of denominations which have retained it–from The Episcopal Church to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the United Church of Christ to the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church in America.  The list of denominations which have never added it to their official hymnody is also diverse, ranging from the Christian Reformed Church of North America to the Church of Nazarene.  Sometimes the presence or absence of the hymn indicates more about tastes in hymnody and worship style than about theology.

Another piece of supporting evidence for that conclusion comes from two non-denominational Evangelical hymnals Tom Fettke edited:  The Hymnal for Worship & Celebration (1986) and The Celebration Hymnal:  Songs and Hymns for Worship (1997).  The former contains the hymn which is the subject of this post, but the latter does not.  A Victorian hymn set to the majestic former Russian national anthem does not fit with contemporary worship, with its seven-eleven songs, does it?

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

JULY 21, 2015 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF J. B. PHILLIPS, BIBLE TRANSLATOR AND ANGLICAN PRIEST

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Above:  The Hymn Title

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal (1932), U.S. Lutheran

Original German Words (1833) by Carl Johann Philipp Spitta (1801-1859)

English Translation by Sarah Borthwick Findlater (1823-1907)

I found the name of the translator in Service Book and Hymnal (1958).  The Concordia Hymnal (1932) and its sort-of successor, The Ambassador Hymnal for Lutheran Worship (1994), list Spitta as author but do not identify the translator.

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1.  O happy home, where Thou art loved the dearest,

Thou loving Friend and Savior of our race,

And where among the guests there never cometh

One who can hold such high and honored place!

2.  O happy home, where little ones are given

To Thee, O Lord, in humble faith and pray’r,

To Thee, their Friend, who from the heights of heaven

Guides them, and guards with more than mother’s care!

3.  O happy home, where each one serves Thee lowly,

Whatever his appointed work may be,

Till ev’ry common task seems great and holy,

When it is done, O Lord, as unto Thee!

4.  O happy home, where Thou art not forgotten

When joy is overflowing, full and free,

O happy home, where ev’ry wounded spirit

Is brought, Physician, Comforter, to Thee.

5.  And when at last all earthly toil is ended,

All meet Thee in the blessed home above,

From whence Thou camest, where Thou hast ascended,–

Thine everlasting home of peace and love.

Above:  Part of the Text, from the Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Original Latin Words from Circa the 900s C.E.

English Translation (1906) by Percy Dearmer (1867-1936)

Hymn Source = Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

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1.  Father most holy, merciful, and tender;

Jesus our Saviour, with the Father reigning;

Spirit all kindly, Advocate, Defender,

Light never waning;

2.  Trinity sacred, Unity unshaken;

Deity perfect, giving and forgiving,

Light of the angels, Life of the forsaken,

Hope of all living.

3.  Maker of all things, all thy creatures praise thee;

Lo, all things serve thee through thy whole creation:

Hear us, Almighty, hear us, as we raise thee

Heart’s adoration.

4.  To the all-ruling triune God be glory:

Highest and greatest, help thou our endeavor,

We too would praise thee, giving honor worthy,

Now and for ever.  Amen.

Above:  St. Simon’s Episcopal Church, Conyers, Georgia, September 9, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

Hymn Source = Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Original German words by the Baron Christian Knorr von Rosenroth (1636-1689)

English translation by Richard Massie (1800-1887)

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1.  Come, thou bright and morning star,

Light of light, without beginning,

Shine upon us from afar,

Like the morn when mists are thinning;

Drive away by thy clear light

Our dark night.

2.  Let thy grace, like morning dew

Falling on the barren places,

Comfort, quicken, and renew

All dry souls and dying graces;

Bless thy flock from thy rich store

Evermore.

3.  May thy fervent love destroy

All cold works, in us awaking

Ardent courage, zeal, and joy,

At the purple morn’s first breaking;

Life has set.

4.  Light us to the heavenly spheres,

Sun of grace, in glory shrouded;

Lead us through this vale of tears,

To the land where days unclouded,

Purest joy and perfect peace,

Never cease.

Above:  St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, LaGrange, Georgia, August 19, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5778473332844690705/5778507371698768242?banner=pwa)

Hymn Source = Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Words by the Reverend Paul Zeller Strodach (1876-1947), a minister and liturgist of the former United Lutheran Church in America (1918-1962), a predecessor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (1987-); he translated a German baptismal liturgy and wrote A Manual for Worship (1930, 1946), a standard work within U.S. Lutheranism at the time

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1.  God of our life, all-glorious Lord,

Be now and everywhere adored!

Into the opening of this day

Bring grace, and love, and peace, we pray.

2.  Make clear our path, that we may see

Where we must walk to be with thee,

And listen alway for thy voice

That we may make thy way our choice.

3.  Give help for doing every task,

Nor let us fail of thee to ask

For grace in speech, for love in deed,

From wrongful actions to be freed.

4.  Inspire us to do some deed

For others’ good to help in need;

To rescue and to lead from shame;

To bless with comfort in  thy Name.

5.  Thus may we walk our way with thee,

Enabled by thy grace to be

A little less unworthy, Lord,

Of thee our Friend, our Holy God.

6.  At eventide then we will raise

A grateful heart in songs of praise;

And worship thee, and thy dear Son,

With God the Spirit, ever One.

Above:  Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Georgia, October 7, 2012

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5796986695764055873/5797383471733063618?banner=pwa)

Hymn Source = Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Words (1871) by William Dalrymple Maclagan (1826-1910), a priest of The Church of England (1856-1910), Bishop of Lichfield (1878-1891), and Archbishop of York (1891-1908)

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1.  Be still, my soul, for God is near,

The great High Priest is with thee now!

The Lord of Life himself is here,

Before whose face the angels bow.

2.  To make thy heart his lowly throne,

Thy Saviour God in love draws nigh;

He gives himself unto his own,

For whom he once came down to die.

3.  He pleads before the mercy-seat,

He pleads with God, he pleads for thee;

He gives thee bread from heaven to eat;

His Flesh and Blood in mystery.

4.  I come, O Lord, for thou dost call,

To blend my pleading prayer with thine;

To thee I give myself, my all,

And feed on thee, and make thee mine.

Above:  Dedication of All Saints’ Chapel, St. Gregory the Great Episcopal Church, Athens, Georgia, October 31, 2010

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5534662399817850193/5534764567377062530?banner=pwa)

Hymn Source = Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Words (1871) by William Dalrymple Maclagan (1826-1910), a priest of The Church of England (1856-1910), Bishop of Lichfield (1878-1891), and Archbishop of York (1891-1908)

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1.  The saints of God! their conflict past,

And life’s long battle won at last,

No more they need the shield or sword,

They cast them down before the Lord:

O happy saints, for ever blest,

At Jesus’ feet how safe your rest!

2.  The saints of God! their wanderings done,

No more their weary course they run,

No more they faint, no more they fall,

No foes oppress, no fears appall:

O happy saints, for ever blest,

In that dear home how sweet your rest!

3.  The saints of God! life’s voyage o’er,

Safe landed on that blissful shore,

No stormy tempests now they dread,

No roaring billows lift their head:

O happy saints, for ever blest,

In that calm haven of your rest!

4.  The saints of God their vigil keep,

While yet their mortal bodies sleep,

Till from the dust they too shall rise

And soar triumphant to the skies:

O happy saints, rejoice and sing;

He quickly comes, your Lord and King!

5.  O God of saints! to thee we cry;

O Saviour! plead for us on high;

O Holy Ghost! our guide and friend,

Grant us thy grace till life shall end;

That with all saints our rest may be

In that bright Paradise with thee!

Above:  Sunset

Image Source = Chad Teer

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sunset_in_Coquitlam.jpg)

Hymn Source = Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Original Greek words by St. Anatolius (died 458), a Patriarch of Constantinople, an opponent of Nestorianism, and a man who died at the hands of members of a Monophysite mob

English translation by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)

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1.  The day is past and over;

All thanks, O Lord, to thee!

I pray thee that offenceless

The hours of dark may be.

O Jesus, keep me in thy sight,

And guard me thro’ the coming night!

2.  The joys of day are over;

I lift my heart to thee,

And call on thee that sinless

The hours of night may be.

O Jesus, make their darkness light,

And guard me thro’ the coming night.

3.  The toils of day are over;

I raise the hymn to thee,

And ask that free from peril

The hours of fear may be.

O Jesus, keep me in thy sight,

And guard me through the coming night.

4.  Be thou my soul’s preserver,

O God, for thou dost know

How many are the perils

Through which I have to go,

Lover of men, O hear my call,

And guard and save me from them all.

Above:  St. Nicholas Episcopal Church, Hamilton, Georgia, Trinity Sunday, June 19, 2011

Image Source = Bill Monk, Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta

(https://plus.google.com/photos/114749828757741527421/albums/5619993286139279201/5620026101507470674?banner=pwa)

Hymn Source = Lutheran Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Original words by St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397); English translation by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)

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1.  O Trinity of blessed light,

O Unity of princely might,

The fiery sun now goes his way;

Shed thou within our hearts thy ray.

2.  To thee our morning song of praise,

To thee our evening prayer we raise;

Thy glory suppliant we adore

For ever and for evermore.

3.  All laud to God the Father be,

All praise, eternal Son, to thee,

All glory, as it is ever meet,

To God the holy Paraclete.