By
Frances Ridley Havergal
Happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before Thee and that hear Thy wisdom. 1 Kings 10:8
Coming to the King
I came from very far to see The King of Salem, for I had been told Of glory and of wisdom manyfold, And condescension infinite and free. Now could I rest, when I had heard his fame, In that dark lonely land of death, from whence I came?
I came (but not like Sheba's queen), alone! No stately train, no costly gifts to bring; No friend at court, save One the King! I had requests to spread before His throne, And I had questions none could solve for me, Of import deep, and full of mystery.
I came and communed with that mighty King And told Him all my heart, I cannot say In mortal ear what communings were they But wouldst thou know, So too, and meekly bring All that is in thine heart and thou shalt hear His voice of love and power His answers sweet and clear
O happy end of every weary guest! He told me all I needed graciously:-- Enough for guidance, and for victory O'er doubts and fears enough for quiet rest, And when some veiled response I could not read It was not hid from Him, this was enough indeed
His wisdom and His glories passed before My wondering eyes in gradual revelation The house that He had built its strong foundation Its living stones and, brightening more and more For glimpses of that palace far away, Where all his loyal ones Shall dwell with Him for aye.
True the report that reached my far-off land Of all His wisdom and transcendent fame, Yet I believed not until I came Bowed to the dust till raised by royal hand The half was never told by mortal word, My King exceeded all the fame that I had heard
Oh happy are His servants! happy they Who stand continually before His face, Ready to do His will of wisest grace! My King! is mine such blessedness to-day? For I too hear Thy wisdom line by line, Thy ever brightening words in holy radiance shine
Oh, blessed be the Lord they God who sat Our King upon His throne Divine delight In the Beloved crowning Thee with might Honour and majesty supreme and yet The strange and Godlike secret opening thus-- The Kingship of His Christ ordained through love to us!
What shall I render to my glorious King? I have but that which I receive from Thee And what I give, Thou givest back to me, Transmuted by Thy touch, each worthless thing Changed to the preciousness of gem or gold, And by thy blessing multiplied a thousand fold
All my desire Thou grantest whatsoer I ask! Was ever mythic tale or dream so bold as this reality, This stream of boundless blessings flowing full and free? Yet more than I have thought or asked of Thee Out of Thy royal bounty still Thou givest me.
Now--I will turn to my own land and tell, What I myself have seen and heard of Thee, And give Thine own sweet message, "Come and see" And yet in heart and mind for ever dwell With Thee, my King of Peace, in loyal rest, Within the fair pavilion of Thy presence blest.
- J R HAVERGAL
O Saviour, precious Saviour, Whom yet unseen we love, O Name of might and favour, All other names above! We worship Thee, we bless Thee To Thee alone we sing We praise Thee, and confess Thee Our holy Lord and King
In Thee all fulness dwelleth, All grace and power divine, The glory that excelleth, O Son of God, is Thine! We worship Thee, we bless Thee To Thee alone we sing, We praise Thee and confess Thee, Our glorious Lord and King
"Ye shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace." Is. IV. 12.
With joy thou shalt be girded, With peace thou shalt be led; And everlasting glory shall rest upon thy head; The hills break forth in singing; the shadows flee away: This is thy King and Saviour-- He will not say thee "Nay!"
Oh Saviour if Thy presence here Can such bright joy impart What must it be in that sweet home Where Thou its glory art Here through faith's vision small and fine One glimpse of Thy dear face Kindles a glow in lonely hearts, No cloud can e'er efface.
- Cecilia Havergal
Springs of peace, when conflict heightens Thine uplifted eye shall see,
Peace that strengthens calms, and brightens, Peace itself a victory.
Springs of comfort strangely springing Through the bitter wells of woe, Founts of hidden gladness, bringing Joy that earth can ne'er bestow
Midst the darkness, storm, and sorrow One bright gleam I see, Well I know the blessed morrow Christ will come for me
Midst the light and peace and glory Of the Fathers home, Christ for me is watching, waiting-- Waiting till I come
Long the blessed Guide has led me By the desert road; Now I see the golden towers-- City of my God.
There amidst the love and glory, He is waiting yet; On His hands a name is graven, He can ne'er forget.
There amidst the songs of heaven-- Sweeter to His ear Is the footfall through the desert, Ever drawing near.
There, made ready are the mansions, Glorious, bright and fair; But the Bride the Father gave Him Still is wanting there.
Who is this who comes to meet me On the desert way, As the Morning Star foretelling God's unclouded day?
He it is who came to win me, On the cross of shame In His glory well I know Him, Evermore the same
Oh! the blessed joy of meeting, All the desert past! Oh! the wondrous words of greeting He shall speak at last!
He and I together entering Those bright courts above, He and I together sharing All the Fathers love.
Where no shade nor stain can enter Nor the gold be dim, In that holiness unsullied I shall walk with Him
Meet companion then for Jesus, From Him, for Him made, Glory of Gods grace for ever There in me displayed
He who in His hour of sorrow Bore the curse alone, I who through the lonely desert Trod where He had gone
He and I in that bright glory One deep joy shall share Mine to be for ever with Him His that I am there
The King of Love my Shepherd is Whose goodness faileth never, I nothing lack if I am His And He is mine for ever.
Where streams of living waters flow, My ransomed soul He leadeth, And where the verdant pastures grow With food celestial feedeth
God is Love, His mercy brightens All the path in which we rove, Bliss He forms, and woe He lightens, God is Light and God is Love
Chance and change are busy ever, Worlds decay and ages move, But His mercy waneth never God is Light and God is Love.
Thine eyes shall see! Yes, thine, who, blind erewhile, Now trembling towards the new-found light dost flee, Leave doubting, and look up with trustful smile. Thine eyes shall see!
Thine eyes shall see the King! The very same Whose love shone forth upon the curseful tree, Who bore thy guilt, who calleth thee by name Thine eyes shall see!
Thine eyes shall see the King, the Mighty One, The many crowned, the light-enrobed, and He Shall bid thee share the kingdom He hath won Thine eyes shall see!
Jesus Master! I am Thine, Keep me faithful keep me near, Let Thy presence in me shine All my homeward way to cheer, Jesus! at Thy feet I fall, Oh, be Thou my all in all
Is it for me, dear Saviour Thy Glory and Thy rest? For me, so weak and sinful oh, shall I thus be blessed? Is it for me to see Thee in all Thy glorious grace And gaze in endless rapture on Thy beloved face?
Behold Thee in Thy beauty, behold Thee face to face, Behold Thee in Thy glory and reap Thy smile of grace And be with Thee for ever, and never grieve Thee more! Dear Saviour I must praise Thee and lovingly adore.
I go to Christ my Saviour With every little need The help He always gives me Is wonderful indeed
I go when I am mourning The loss of loved ones near He speaketh words of comfort sweet, He doth my spirit cheer
I go when I am fearing The cruse of oil will fail He sendeth me the needful means And thus doth prayer prevent
- Cecilia Havergal
Christ my King, my Master, let my whole life be, Spent in blessed service only until Thee Let me serve Thee gladly, That the world may know 'Tis a happy privilege, Thee to serve below.
Let me serve Thee humbly, Thine be all the praise, 'Tis Thy love alone which tunes my feeble lays; Let me serve Thee quickly--Time will soon be o'er I would fain lead many to heaven's peaceful shore.
Let me serve Thee ever, from morning until eve, My earliest and my latest breath, my King, Thou shall receive. And oh when service here is spent, and Heaven is won Grant that I too, dear Master, may hear Thy sweet "Well done!"
- Cevilia Havergal
"Under His shadow," with Christ alone Here, love He whispers in tenderest tone, Treasures unfolding, riches of grace Thus for life's battle my soul doth He brace.
"Under His shadow," a near page of life. Opens before me, apart from the strife Oh! will Thou show me Master and King How I may glory unto Thee bring!
"Under His shadow" may life be passed Daily and hourly on till the last, Then no more shadows, all shall have fled When we awake like Jesus our Head.
- M A Spiller
I sat down under His shadow with great delight. Cant. II G
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Frances Ridley Havergal, the daughter of a Church of England minister, is well known for her great hymns of consecration including the famous Take My Life and Let It Be. She also wrote hymn melodies, religious tracts, and works for children.
In 1852/3 she studied in the Louisenschule, Dusseldorf, and at Oberkassel. Otherwise she led a quiet life, not enjoying consistent good health; she travelled, in particular to Switzerland. She supported the Church Missionary Society.
She died of peritonitis at Caswell Bay on the Gower Peninsula in Wales. Her sisters saw much of her work published posthumously. Havergal College, a private girls' school in Toronto, is named after her. The composer Havergal Brian adopted the name as a tribute to the Havergal family.