Best Loved Hymns and Readings - Martin Manser

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The words for this hymn come originally from an eighth-century Irish poem entitled ‘Rob tu mo bhoile’. It became a great favourite with Irish congregations after first appearing in The Irish Church Hymnal (1919), translated by Mary Elizabeth Byrne (1880-1931) and set to music by Eleanor Henrietta Hull (1860-1935).

      Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart,

      Be all else but naught to me, save that Thou art, Be Thou my best thought in the day and the night, Both waking and sleeping, Thy presence my light.

      Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word,

      Be Thou ever with me, and I with Thee, Lord, Be Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son, Be Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

      Be Thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight,

      Be Thou my whole armour, be Thou my true might, Be Thou my soul’s shelter, be Thou my strong tower, O raise Thou me heavenward, great Power of my power.

      Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,

      Be Thou my inheritance now and always, Be Thou and Thou only the first in my heart, O Sovereign of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

      High King of heaven, Thou heaven’s bright Sun,

      O grant me its joys after vict’ry is won, Great heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be Thou my vision, O Ruler of all.

       Anonymous

       Blessed are the poor in spirit

       This passage, from Matthew 5:1-12, is often quoted as comfort for those who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. The eight blessings announced by Christ at the start of the Sermon on the Mount are known as ‘The Beatitudes’.

      When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

      ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

      ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

      ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

      ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

      ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

      ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

      ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

      ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

      ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.’

       Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine

       Fanny Crosby wrote over 8000 hymns, of which this is one of the most celebrated. A native of Putnam County, New York, Fanny was bom blind and attended one of the first special schools for the blind in the USA. She overcame her blindness by composing her lines in her head and then dictating them to be written down by a friend or secretary, publishing her vast output under no fewer than 216 pseudonyms.

       In the latter part of the twentieth century this particular hymn was adopted as a theme tune by celebrated US evangelist Billy Graham.

      Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

      O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God; Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

       This is my story, this is my song,Praising my Saviour all the day long;This is my story, this is my song,Praising my Saviour all the day long.

      Perfect submission, perfect delight,

      Visions of rapture burst on my sight; Angels descending, bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

      Perfect submission, all is at rest,

      I in my Saviour am happy and blest; Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

       Fanny Crosby (Frances van Alstyne; 1820-1915)

       Blood, toil, tears and sweat

       Winston Churchill delivered this speech (his first in the post of British Prime Minister) on 13 May 1940, when the country faced the threat of invasion by Nazi Germany. It remains one of the most celebrated expressions of determination in the face of danger.

      I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this government: ‘I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.’

      We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering.

      You ask, what is our policy? I can say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us; to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark, lamentable catalogue of human crime. That is our policy.

      You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.

      Let that be realised; no survival for the British Empire, no survival for all that the British Empire has stood for, no survival for the urge and impulse of the ages, that mankind will move forward towards its goal. But I take up my task with buoyancy and hope.

      I feel sure that our cause will not be suffered to fail among men. At this time I feel entitled to claim the aid of all, and I say, ‘Come then, let us go forward together with our united strength.’

       Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

       Breathe on me, Breath of God

       This hymn was first published in 1878 and remains popular today. It links the breath of God with the Holy Spirit whose person and activity are vital at every stage of the Christian life, from new birth and yearning for purity and a Christ-like life, through to eternal life.

      Breathe on me, Breath of God,

      Fill me with life anew, That I may love what Thou dost love, And do what Thou wouldst do.

      Breathe on me, Breath of God,

      Until my heart is pure; Until with Thee I will one will, To do and to endure.

      Breathe on me, Breath of God,

      Till I am wholly Thine; Until this earthly part of me Glows with Thy fire divine.

      Breathe on me, Breath of God:

      So shall I never die, But live with Thee the perfect life Of Thine eternity.

       Edwin Hatch (1835-89)

       The burning bush

       The story of the Burning Bush, as described at Exodus 3:1-14, ranks

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