Beautiful Hymns Post Your Favorite

[rlvaughn]

Children of the Heavenly King by John Cennick

1 Children of the heav'nly King,
as ye journey, sweetly sing;
sing your Savior's worthy praise,
glorious in his works and ways.

2 We are trav'ling home to God
in the way the fathers trod;
they are happy now, and we
soon their happiness shall see.

3 Lift your eyes ye sons of light;
Zion's city is in sight!
There our endless home shall be;
there our Lord we soon shall see.

4 Fear not, brethren, joyful stand
on the borders of your land;
Jesus Christ, your Father's Son,
bids you undismayed go on.

5 Lord, obediently we go,
gladly leaving all below;
lead us now in all we do
and we still will follow you.

The above is a much different tune than we use. We use a tune sometimes called "King of Peace," a 6/4 minor key tune.

 

[rlvaughn]

This is one of my Mother's favorites. Her father used to sing it while leaning against a laid-down straight-back chair in the dog run of their old home. A favorite of mine as well.

Prayer for Ministers, or, Prayer for Revival, by John Newton, Olney Hymns, 1779

1. Savior, visit Thy plantation,
Grant us, Lord, a gracious rain!
All will come to desolation,
Unless Thou return again.
Keep no longer at a distance,
Shine upon us from on high;
Lest, for want of Thine assistance;
Every plant would droop and die.

2. Surely, once Thy garden flourished,
Every part looked gay and green;
Then Thy Word our spirits nourished,
Happy seasons we have seen!
But a drought has since succeeded,
And a sad decline we see;
Lord, Thy help is greatly needed,
Help can only come from Thee.

3. Where are those we counted leaders,
Filled with zeal, and love, and truth?
Old professors, tall as cedars,
Bright examples to our youth!
Some, in whom we once delighted,
We shall meet no more below;
Some, alas! we fear are blighted,
Scarce a single leaf they show.

4. Younger plants—the sight how pleasant,
Covered thick with blossoms stood;
But they cause us grief at present,
Frosts have nipped them in the bud!
Dearest Savior, hasten hither,
Thou canst make them bloom again;
O, permit them not to wither,
Let not all our hopes be vain!

5. Let our mutual love be fervent,
Make us prevalent in prayers;
Let each one esteemed Thy servant,
Shun the world’s bewitching snares.
Break the tempter’s fatal power,
Turn the stony heart to flesh;
And begin, from this good hour,
To revive Thy work afresh.

Most books don't have all the stanzas. We always sing it with the "Lord, revive us" chorus, which is not by Newton

 

[rlvaughn]

The Old Ship of Zion
I was standing by the banks of a river
...
Sailing out on the old ship of Zion

Two versions: