Zion, the city of God (John Newton) best to Abbot's Leigh
Isaiah 33:20,21 : http://www.johnnewton.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=37273
Some years ago I decided that you could memorise hymns pretty easily by reading each line quickly and looking up from your book to sing it. After a couple of goes you have got the hymn in your head (and I like it because it is a nice easy lazy way to learn something. Anything easy and mechanical - that's me!)
This is perhaps my favourite hymn. Abbots Leigh is a good strong tune, and I once sang it to audition to join a choir - I thought the arpeggios and octave leaps were a good idea.
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for his own abode:
On the rock of ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
See! the streams of living waters
Springing from eternal love;
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which like the LORD, the giver,
Never fails from age to age.
Round each habitation hovering
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a covering,
Showing that the LORD is near:
Thus deriving from their banner
Light by night and shade by day;
Safe they feed upon the Manna
Which he gives them when they pray.
Blest inhabitants of Zion ,
Washed in the Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to GOD:
'Tis his love his people raises
Over self to reign as kings
And as priests, his solemn praises
Each for a thank-offering brings.
Saviour, if of Zion 's city
I through grace a member am;
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure,
None but Zion 's children know.
Incidentally, it is pretty obvious that, like Stephen and the apostles (Paul and Peter etc.), John Newton identified the church and Christians today with Israel and the Israelites in the desert wanderings between Egypt and Canaan. I think everyone can see that?
Some years ago I decided that you could memorise hymns pretty easily by reading each line quickly and looking up from your book to sing it. After a couple of goes you have got the hymn in your head (and I like it because it is a nice easy lazy way to learn something. Anything easy and mechanical - that's me!)
This is perhaps my favourite hymn. Abbots Leigh is a good strong tune, and I once sang it to audition to join a choir - I thought the arpeggios and octave leaps were a good idea.
Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God!
He, whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for his own abode:
On the rock of ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
See! the streams of living waters
Springing from eternal love;
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows their thirst to assuage?
Grace, which like the LORD, the giver,
Never fails from age to age.
Round each habitation hovering
See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a covering,
Showing that the LORD is near:
Thus deriving from their banner
Light by night and shade by day;
Safe they feed upon the Manna
Which he gives them when they pray.
Blest inhabitants of Zion ,
Washed in the Redeemer's blood!
Jesus, whom their souls rely on,
Makes them kings and priests to GOD:
'Tis his love his people raises
Over self to reign as kings
And as priests, his solemn praises
Each for a thank-offering brings.
Saviour, if of Zion 's city
I through grace a member am;
Let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in thy name
Fading is the worldling's pleasure,
All his boasted pomp and show;
Solid joys and lasting treasure,
None but Zion 's children know.
Incidentally, it is pretty obvious that, like Stephen and the apostles (Paul and Peter etc.), John Newton identified the church and Christians today with Israel and the Israelites in the desert wanderings between Egypt and Canaan. I think everyone can see that?
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