12 Hymns by F.E. Belden & Their Biblical Connections (Part 2)

When the 1886 hymnal was released, it was described as the “largest and most comprehensive hymnbook ever published by the Church”. It has 1,413 hymns, most printed as two staves with one verse in the score and the remaining text and other hymns in the same meter being printed below. The hymnal committee comprised of George Butler, Uriah Smith, J.H. Waggoner, A.R. Henry and Edwin Barnes. In it’s preface included that “The hymns will be found generally of a high order of literary merit, and strictly in harmony with the teachings of the Scriptures.”

Aside from being the editor of the said hymnal, Franklin Belden is also the largest Adventist contributor with eighty hymn texts and eighty-seven tunes. It will be the official hymnal until the Church Hymnal, published in 1941.

Then there’s Christ in Song, one of the most popular songbooks in the Adventist church. It was published in 1900 and was largely the result of F. E. Belden’s effort. It contains 742 hymns and 692 tunes. The 1908 revision is one that later in the century will be remembered with affection by older Adventists. It is designed by Belden to be used as at church, Sabbath school, and young persons’ hymnal and will become the unofficial hymnal of the church, continuing in that role even after the release of the new 1941 Church Hymnal.

Join me once more as we explore the 2nd set of 6 hymn written and composed by Franklin Belden. I invite you to imagine — Franklin sitting beside his wife at the choir loft, listening, writing and composing as the preacher gives an exposition of the sermon’s key text.

SDAH 579: ‘Tis Love That Makes Us Happy

LYRICS

1
‘Tis love that makes us happy,
‘Tis love that smooths the way;
It helps us mind, it makes us kind
To others every day.

Refrain
God is love; we’re his little children.
God is love; we would be like Him.
‘Tis love that makes us happy,
‘Tis love that smooths the way;
It helps us “mind,” it makes us kind
To others every day.

2
This world is full of sorrow,
Of sickness, death, and sin;
With loving heart we’ll do our part,
And try some soul to win.

3
And when this life is over,
And we are called above
Our song shall be, eternally,
Of Jesus and His love.

SCRIPTURAL BASIS

1
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

Refrain
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

2
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

3
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Christ in Song, 1908

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SDAH 595: Let Every Lamp Be Burning

LYRICS

1
Let every lamp be burning bright,
The darkest hour is nearing;
The darkest hour of earth’s long night,
Before the Lord’s appearing.

Refrain
Then trim your lamps, my brethren dear,
Then trim your lamps with godly fear;
The Master’s coming draweth near,
Let every lamp be burning.

2
Though thousands calmly slumber on,
The last great message spurring,
We’ll rest our living faith upon
His promise of returning.

3
His word our lamp, His truth our guide,
We cannot be mistaken;
Though dangers rise on every side,
We shall not be forsaken.

4
Then let good works with faith appear,
To help the world around us;
Obedience bring the blessing near
When faith has firmly bound us.

SCRIPTURAL BASIS

1
Mat 25:4  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
2Pe 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
Mic 3:6  Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
Joel 2:10  The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining:
Mat 25:6  And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.

Refrain
Mat 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.

2
Mat 25:5  While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
2Co 5:7  (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Jhn 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

3
Psa 119:105  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Psa 118:8  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Heb 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

4
Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Luk 6:27  But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
Psa 128:1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
Psa 128:2  For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Mat 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

HYMNS & TUNES, 1886

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SDAH 596: Look For the Waymarks

LYRICS

1
Look for the waymarks as you journey on,
Look for the waymarks passing one by one;
Down through the ages, past the kingdoms four—
Where are we standing? Look the way-marks o’er.

Refrain
Look for the waymarks, the great prophetic waymarks,
Down through the ages, past the kingdoms four.
Look for the waymarks, the great prophetic waymarks;
The journey’s almost o’er.

2
First, the Assyrian kingdom ruled the world,
Then Medo-Persia’s banners were unfurled;
And after Greece held universal sway,
Rome seized the scepter—where are we today?

3
Down in the feet of iron and of clay,
Weak and divided, soon to pass away;
What will the next great, glorious drama be?
Christ and His coming, and eternity.

SCRIPTURAL BASIS

1 and Refrain
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

2
Dan 2:38  And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold
Dan 2:39  And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth.
Dan 2:40  And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise.

3
Dan 2:42  And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken.
Dan 2:43  And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay.
Dan 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.

HYMNS & TUNES, 1886

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SDAH 600: Hold Fast Till I Come

LYRICS

1
Sweet promise is given to all who believe–
“Behold I come quickly, Mine own to receive;
Hold fast till I come; the danger is great;
Sleep not as do others; be watchful, and wait.”

Refrain
“Hold fast till I come,” sweet promise of heaven–
“The kingdom restored, to you shall be given.”
“Come, enter My joy, sit down on the throne;
Bright crowns are in waiting; hold fast till I come.”

2
We’ll “watch unto prayer” with lamps burning bright;
He comes to all others a “thief in the night.”
We know He is near, but know not the day–
As spring shows that summer is not far away.

3
Yes! this is our hope, ’tis built on His word–
The glorious appearing of Jesus, our Lord;
Of promises all, it stands as the sum:
“Behold I come quickly; hold fast till I come.”

SCRIPTURAL BASIS

1
Gal. 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
1 Thess 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Refrain
Rev 22:25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come
Luk 12:32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Matt 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
2 Tim 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2
Matt 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
1 Thess 5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Matt 24:36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Matt 24:32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

3
Ps 119:114 Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.
Ps 119:49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
Rev 22:25 But that which ye have already hold fast till I come

HYMNS & TUNES, 1886

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SDAH 604: We Know Not the Hour

LYRICS

1
We know not the hour of the Master’s appearing;
Yet signs all foretell that the moment is nearing
When He shall return ’tis the promise most cheering
But we know not the hour.

Refrain
He will come, let us watch and be ready;
He will come, hallelujah! hallelujah!
He will come in the clouds of His Father’s
bright glory but we know not the hour.

2
There’s light for the wise who are seeking salvation;
There’s truth in the book of the Lord’s revelation;
Each prophecy points to the great comsummation
But we know not the hour.

3
We’ll watch and we’ll pray, with our lamps trimmed and burning;
We’ll work and we’ll wait till the Master’s returning;
We’ll sing and rejoice, every omen discerning
But we know not the hour.

SCRIPTURAL BASIS

1
Mat 24:36  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
Mat 24:29  Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
Mat 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Refrain
Mat 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

2
2Ti 3:15  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Rom 16:25  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Rev 1:3  Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

3
Mrk 13:33  Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is.
Mat 25:7  Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
Mat 24:30  And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
Mat 24:44  Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.