The sands of time are sinking,
The dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sighed for –
The fair, sweet morn awakes:
Dark, dark had been the midnight
But dayspring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land.

The king there in His beauty,
Without a veil is seen:
It were a well-spent journey,
Though seven deaths lay between:
The Lamb with His fair army,
Doth on Mount Zion stand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land

O Christ, He is the fountain,
The deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted
More deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness
His mercy doth expand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land.

The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear Bridegroom’s face;
I will not gaze at glory
But on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth
But on His pierced hand;
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Emmanuel’s land.

O I am my Beloved’s
And my Beloved is mine!
He brings a poor vile sinner
Into His house of wine
I stand upon His merit –
I know no other stand,
Not e’en where glory dwelleth
In Emmanuel’s land.

in their own way, full of a kind of simple love and gratitude. The more learned among us would poke holes in their faulty logic or misplaced theology. The simple but pious may not understand all the implications. Yet they are what they are.

When I was a child we called them the “old” hymns, old meaning for all intents and purposes the time before us. In our case it was the 19th century and the early part of the 20th. They were songs of revival, songs of personal gratitude for the presence and work of God, and songs about heaven composed in an era when people just didn’t live nearly as long as we do now and so it was a pressing topic.

Whatever else they could be, they were most often simple and direct. The voice of one loving heart sent to the Throne. People sometimes wept when they sang them and lives were changed by the words. Burdens were lifted and hope was restored. Broken people found the balm of Gilead and grace never stopped amazing.

I’ve been to Cathedrals with lovely choirs. I’ve attended Mozart’s “Requiem” and Bach’s “Passion according to St. Matthew”. All well and good yet I can hardly remember a word. Perhaps I’m not developed enough. Perhaps I have not yet risen to my Master of Divinity (what an awful name for a degree) and still have a long way to go.

Yet I remember and if the words to those “old” hymns aren’t  always so capital “O” Orthodox the love they touch on is and if that’s all that remains I still will be the better for it.  “Nearer my God to Thee” indeed.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

* Refrain:
Than to be the king of a vast domain,
Or be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name

He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom;
He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb;
He’s all that my hungering spirit needs;
I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead



My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.