Hymnal: Christian Psalms and Hymns
Date: 1839
Compiler: Walter Scott and Silas Leonard
Publisher/Printer: A S Tilden
First Line: How painfully pleasing the fond recollection
Topic: <no topic given>
Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>
Composer:
Tune:
Hymn Number: 645
Page Number: 342, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsHOW painfully pleasing the fond recollection,
Of youthful connection and innocent joy;
While blest with parental advice and affection,
Surrounded with mercies and peace from on high!
I still see the seats of my Father and Mother,
And those of their offspring as ranged on each hand;
And that richest of books that excelled every other-
The Family Bible that lay on the stand.
The Bible, the volume of God's inspiration;
At morning and evening, could yield us delight;
The prayer of our Sire was a sweet invocation,
For mercy by day, and for safety by night.
Our hymns of thanksgiving with harmony swelling,
All warm from the heart of the family band,
Half raised us from earth to that rapturous dwelling,
Described in the Bible that lay on the stand.
You scenes of tranquility, long have we parted,
My hopes almost gone, and my parents no more!
In sorrow and sadness I live broken hearted,
And wander alone on a far distant shore;
Yet how can I doubt a dear Saviour's protection-
Forgetful of gifts from his bountiful hand.
O! let me with patience receive his correction,
And think of the Bible that lay on the stand.
Blest Bible, the light and the guide of the stranger!
With thee I seem circled with parents and friends;
Thy blest admonitions shall guard me from danger,
On thee my last lingering hope still depends
Hope wakens to vigor, and rouses to glory-
I'll hasten and flee to the promised land,
And for refuge lay hold on the hope set before me,
Revealed in the Bible that lay on the stand.
Hail, Bible, the brightest and best of the morning-
The star that has guided my parents quite home,
The beams of thy glory my pathway adorning,
Shall scatter the darkness and brighten the gloom.
As did eastern sages, to worship the stranger,
Glad hasten with joy to behold Canaan's land
I will bow to adore him, but not in a manger:
He's seen in the Bible that lay on the stand.
Though age and misfortune press hard on my feelings,
I'll cleave to the Bible and trust in the Lord;
Though darkness may cover his merciful dealings,
My souls shall be cheer'd by his heavenly word;
And now from things earthly my soul is removing;
I soon shall shout glory with heaven's bright band;
And in raptures of joy be forever adoring,
The God of the Bible that lay on the stand.
CHORUS.
The old-fashioned Bible! the dear blessed Bible!
The family Bible that lay on the stand.