Lyrically, this is one of the greatest hymns ever written. If you know some other wonderful Christ-exalting hymns, please share the lyrics in the comments section. Would love to see them.
Hast thou heard Him, seen Him, known Him?
Hast thou heard Him, seen Him, known Him?
Is not thine a captured heart?
Chief among ten thousand own Him,
Joyful choose the better part.
Idols once they won thee, charmed thee,
Lovely things of time and sense;
Gilded thus does sin disarm thee,
Honeyed lest thou turn thee thence.
What has stripped the seeming beauty
From the idols of the earth?
Not a sense of right or duty,
But the sight of peerless worth.
Not the crushing of those idols,
With its bitter void and smart;
But the beaming of His beauty,
The unveiling of His heart.
Who extinguishes their taper
Till they hail the rising sun?
Who discards the garb of winter
Till the summer has begun?
‘Tis the look that melted Peter,
‘Tis the face that Stephen saw,
‘Tis the heart that wept with Mary,
Can alone from idols draw:
Draw and win and fill completely,
Till the cup o’erflow the brim;
What have we to do with idols
Who have companied with Him?
Miss Ora Rowan (1834-1879)
Jeff Doles said,
November 2, 2009 at 5:35 PM
MY SONG IS LOVE UNKNOWN
Samuel Crossman 1664
My song is love unknown,
My Savior’s love to me;
Love to the loveless shown,
That they might lovely be.
O who am I, that for my sake
My Lord should take, frail flesh and die?
He came from His blest throne
Salvation to bestow;
But men made strange, and none
The longed for Christ would know:
But O! my Friend, my Friend indeed,
Who at my need His life did spend.
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!” is all their breath,
And for His death they thirst and cry.
Why, what hath my Lord done?
What makes this rage and spite?
He made the lame to run,
He gave the blind their sight,
Sweet injuries! Yet they at these
Themselves displease, and ’gainst Him rise.
They rise and needs will have
My dear Lord made away;
A murderer they saved,
The Prince of life they slay,
Yet cheerful He to suffering goes,
That He His foes from thence might free.
Here might I stay and sing,
No story so divine;
Never was love, dear King!
Never was grief like Thine.
This is my Friend, in Whose sweet praise
I all my days could gladly spend.
Jeff Doles said,
November 2, 2009 at 5:39 PM
I FEEL THE WINDS OF GOD TODAY
Jesse Adams, 1906
I feel the winds of God today
Today my sail I lift
Though heavy oft with drenching spray
And torn with many a rift
If hope would light the water’s crest
And Christ my bark will use
I’ll seek the seas at His behest
And brave another cruise
It is the wind of God that dries
My vain regretful tears
Until with braver thoughts shall rise
The purer brighter years
If cast on shores of selfish ease
Or pleasure I should be
Lord let me feel Your freshening breeze
And I’ll set back to sea
If ever I forget Thy love
Or how that love was shown
Lift high the blood-red flag above
It bears Thy name alone
Great Pilot of my onward way
Thou will not let me drift
I feel the winds of God today
Today my sail I lift
David Spånberger said,
November 2, 2009 at 7:10 PM
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 armor, 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 mine 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 victory is won;
great Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be thou my vision, O Ruler of all.
English versification by Eleanor Hull, 1912
David Spånberger said,
November 2, 2009 at 7:14 PM
Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven, to earth come down;
fix in us thy humble dwelling;
all thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus thou art all compassion,
pure, unbounded love thou art;
visit us with thy salvation;
enter every trembling heart.
Breathe, O breathe thy loving Spirit
into every troubled breast!
Let us all in thee inherit;
let us find that second rest.
Take away our bent to sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
end of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty.
Come, Almighty to deliver,
let us all thy life receive;
suddenly return and never,
nevermore thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
serve thee as thy hosts above,
pray and praise thee without ceasing,
glory in thy perfect love.
Finish, then, thy new creation;
pure and spotless let us be.
Let us see thy great salvation
perfectly restored in thee;
changed from glory into glory,
till in heaven we take our place,
till we cast our crowns before thee,
lost in wonder, love, and praise.
by Charles Wesley 1747
Joel Frederick said,
November 2, 2009 at 10:49 PM
In Christ Alone (Stuart Townend, Keith Getty)
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8welVgKX8Qo)
Don Wood said,
November 2, 2009 at 10:54 PM
Someone tell me where to find the notes to Miss Ora Rowan’s “Hast thou heard Him, seen Him, known Him?” Thanks
frankaviola said,
November 2, 2009 at 10:56 PM
I’ve heard it sung 3 different ways; but don’t have nor have ever seen the notes. One can sing it to the tune of “The Rose” even.
fiwl said,
November 2, 2009 at 11:08 PM
I don’t know “The Rose” either. Is there a midi file somewhere for that? Thanks, Frank. We have had quite a few people in India read and enjoy “PC.” It has done a lot here and we thank God for your writing it.
Love you,
Don & Family
Deborah Kiblinger said,
November 3, 2009 at 7:41 AM
Here is Love by William Rees. This was a favorite of the Welsh Revival. Matt Redman did this version in 2004.
Here is love, vast as the ocean
Lovingkindness as the flood
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom
Shed for us His precious blood
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten
Throughout Heav’n’s eternal days
On the mount of crucifixion
Fountains opened deep and wide
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast a gracious tide
Grace and love, like mighty rivers
Poured incessant from above
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love
Chorus:
No love is higher, no love is wider
No love is deeper, no love is truer
No love is higher, no love is wider
No love is like Your love, o Lord
frankaviola said,
November 3, 2009 at 8:01 AM
“The Rose” by Bette Midler. You can find that on YouTube I’m sure. It was a big hit. I don’t know if any other sites have the other tunes. You may want to do a search on Google for it.
fiwl said,
November 3, 2009 at 2:08 PM
Thanks!
Don & Family
mark said,
November 3, 2009 at 5:13 PM
Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder, words by John Newton
from 1 Cor. 6:11, 20; Rev. 1:5
1. Let us love and sing and wonder
Let us praise the Savior’s name
He has hushed the law’s loud thunder
He has quenched Mount Sinai’s flame
He has washed us with His blood
He has brought us nigh to God
2. Let us love the Lord Who bought us
Pitied us when enemies
Called us by His grace and taught us
Gave us ears and gave us eyes
He has washed us with His blood
He presents our souls to God
3. Let us sing though fierce temptation
Threatens hard to bear us down
For the Lord, our strong salvation,
Holds in view the conqu’ror’s crown
He, Who washed us with His blood,
Soon will bring us home to God
4. Let us wonder grace and justice
Join and point to mercy’s store
When through grace in Christ our trust is
Justice smiles and asks no more
He Who washed us with His blood
Has secured our way to God
5. Let us praise and join the chorus
Of the saints enthroned on high
Here they trusted Him before us
Now their praises fill the sky
Thou hast washed us with Thy blood
Thou art worthy Lamb of God
Angela said,
November 3, 2009 at 9:02 PM
I like that first verse of John Newton’s –’hushed the law’s thunder’ etc.
Shirley Harrison said,
November 4, 2009 at 10:49 AM
This is a Watchman Nee Hymn:
THE OLIVE, WITHOUT CRUSHING, YIELDS NO OIL
The olive, without crushing, yields no oil;
The precious herb, unbruised, no fragrance frees;
No wine from grapes, without the winepress toil.
Must I be bruised and pressed, Lord, such as these?
Lord, Thy afflictions are true gain to me.
What Thou removest, Lord, replace with Thee!
For sacred Love to find the melody,
Must my heart’s strings be stretched and tuned by Thee?
Must I be smitten, Lord, to know Thy love?
I fear no loss, if Thou draw close to me.
Lord, Thy afflictions are true gain to me,
What Thou removest, Lord replace with Thee!
Oh, how ashamed I feel for holding back!
You sculpted me, yet I myself retain.
According to Thy pleasure, dear Lord, act;
Mind not my feelings. Thy delight is gain.
Lord, Thy afflictions are true gain to me,
What Thou removest, Lord, replace with Thee!
Lord, should my joy and pain not match Thine own,
I’ll take the suff’rings for Thy joy alone;
If you are pleased, I’ll gladly bear Thy cross!
Lord, Thy afflictions are true gain to me,
What Thou removest, Lord, replace with Thee!
I want to praise Thee with the sweetest praise.
On earth there is none fairer, Lord, than Thee.
Tears cloud my eyes, yet sweetness fills my heart.
May I decrease. May Thou increase in me!
Lord, Thy afflictions are true gain to me,
What Thou removest, Lord, replace with Thee!
This hymn and the hymn “Has Thou Heard Him, Seen Him, Know Him” can be found in CHRIST IN SONG hymnbook.
jay said,
November 5, 2009 at 9:56 AM
God gave me a song during a period in my life where i was losing a sister to cancer and having twin boys born to my wife and i. To say i was overwhelmed with emotion is an understatement.
In about 20 seconds God gave me this song, lyrics, music, & melody, luckily with a pen in one hand and a telecaster in the other, it came to fruition:
This is Life
Creation Calls, from the first breath we breathe
Light does show, this time we meet
If I become like a child, offer my vulnerability
Acceptance levels rise, everytime we meet
And i have waited, spent countless times praying
for you (to come)
Seasons change, life gets rearranged
Yet faithfully, you stay the same
Don’t let your love fade away
I’m inviting you, to come in and stay
And love can show, through blinded eyes
That mercy flows, from your sacrafice
A soft cry above, in desperation
To the father, to the son, for liberation
And i have waited, spent countless times praying
for you (to come)
Seasons change, life gets rearranged
Yet faithfully, you stay the same
Don’t let your love fade away
I’m inviting you, to come in and stay
So praise his ways, and praise his name
Our God restores all sin and shame
Praise his ways, praise his name
Seasons change, life gets rearranged
Yet faithfully, you stay the same
Don’t let your love fade away
I’m inviting you, to come in and stay
So praise his ways, and praise his name
Our God restores all sin and shame
so there, i know it isn’t a “hymn”, but it is mine i guess.
When i was in the studio recording it later on, the Spirit of God
came over me in a powerful way and i almost burst into tears
(you can hear my voice trembling on the recording)
When i listen to the words of this song, i immediately think of the reason Christ talked about coming to him as a child. Pure and unabashed – created to be with our creator. Its an amazing thing.
jay said,
November 10, 2009 at 12:20 PM
This is a modern song but definately has a hymn feel to it, very good stuff especially the Robbie Seay version
Beautiful Scandalous Night:
Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified
Follow Christ to the holy mountain
Sinner sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul
In the fountain that flowed
For you and for me and for all
At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful, scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night
On the hillside, you will be delivered
At the foot of the cross justified
And your spirit restored
By the river that poured
From our blessed Savior’s side
Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified
Jonathan "Sigs" Sigmon said,
November 16, 2009 at 11:15 AM
“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” performed by Stuart Townend
How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure
How great the pain of searing loss,
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
Behold the Man upon a cross,
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocing voice,
Call out among the scoffers
It was my sin that held Him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished
I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection
Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom