Best Loved Hymns and Readings. Martin Manser
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is no death!
There is therefore now no condemnation
Those who are first will be last
Through all the changing scenes of life
To a good man of most dear memory
To the virgins, to make much of time
We brought nothing into this world
We plough the fields, and scatter
We shall fight them on the beaches
What a friend we have in Jesus
What God has joined together, let no one separate
When I survey the wondrous cross
While shepherds watched their flocks by night
Who will separate us from the love of Christ?
Whoever welcomes one such child
The wolf shall live with the lamb
This collection of Best-loved Hymns and Readings has been compiled as a resource for personal devotion and also as a reference work. It will be useful for making selections for such services as weddings, Christenings, or funerals. You will find here many favourite and traditional hymns, poems, readings, and extracts from the Bible (e.g., ‘Amazing Grace’ and Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan), together with less familiar ones (e.g., Shakespeare’s ‘The quality of mercy is not strained’). Each hymn, reading, poem, etc., is given an introduction which sets its background or gives interesting or helpful information. All the readings are arranged in alphabetical order of title (ignoring ‘A’ or ‘The’ at the beginning of a title). For ease of reference there are also indexes at the end of the book to enable you to find a particular item by reference to its first line, its author, its overall theme or, where appropriate, its Bible reference.
These extracts have been compiled in the hope that they will provide inspiration and encouragement both for everyday life and also at times of particular need and on special occasions.
Martin H. Manser
Henry Francis Lyte was vicar of the fishing port of Brixham, Devon, and wrote a number of greatly loved hymns, of which ‘Abide with me’ is perhaps the most celebrated. He wrote it shortly after his last sermon, knowing that his own death (at the premature age of 54) was imminent, having been diagnosed with tuberculosis.
In 1915 Nurse Edith Cavell famously derived strength from this hymn by singing it in her cell the night before she was executed by a German firing squad. Today it is also a great favourite with crowds at football matches.
The original reference is to Luke 24:29, which runs ‘Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.’
Abide with me! fast falls the eventide,
The darkness deepens; LORD, with me abide! When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me!
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see: O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!
I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s power? Who like Thyself my guide and stay can be? Through cloud