Hymns

This is a review of the new edition of Spurgeon’s Own Hymn Book. It is “A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Public, Social, and Private Worship.”

The book is published by Christian Focus Publications. It was originally compiled by Charles Haddon Spurgeon for use at the Metropolitan Tabernacle; edited by Chris Fenner and Matt Boswell; Foreword by Tom Nettles (Hardcover 451 pages).

I recall telling someone once that I couldn’t get into the Psalms as much as I should. God is sovereign and within a few weeks that changed. There was also a time when I couldn’t read Spurgeon much. Now I find him very comforting. In fact in a previous post I told the story about how my German Shepherd left me a lasting message using Spurgeon’s book At the Master’s Feet, just before he passed away. I rather think that God orchestrated the incident … and that He has a gracious sense of humor.

Rosaria Butterfield wrote,

O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet, Whose stern, impassioned stress
A thoroughfare for freedom beat Across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine!

O beautiful for patriot dream That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea!

1911 version of the text by Katharine Lee Bates.