O Happy Saints

O happy saints that dwell in light

Author: John Berridge
Published in 54 hymnals

Author: John Berridge

Berridge, John, born at Kingston, Notis, March 1, 1716, and educated at Clare Hall, Cambridge. In 1749 he was ordained as curate to the parish of Stapleford, near Cambridge, and in 1755 he was preferred to the Vicarage of Everton, where he died Jan. 22, 1793. His epitaph, written by himself for his own tombstone (with date of death filled in), is an epitome of his life. It reads:β€” " Here lies the remains of John Berridge, late Vicar of Everton, and an itinerate servant of Jesus Christ, who loved his Master and His work; and after running on His errands for many years, was caught up to wait on Him above. Reader! art thou born again? (No salvation without a new birth.) I was born in sin, February, 1716; remained ignorant of my fallen sta… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O happy saints that dwell in light
Title: O Happy Saints
Author: John Berridge
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

O happy saints [that] who dwell in light, And walk with Jesu, &c. J. Berridge. [Saints in Glory.] Published in his Zion's Songs, &c, 1785, No. 143, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed, β€œAt Thy right hand are pleasures for evermore." Psalms xvi. l.1 (edition 1842, p. 139). Although seldom found in English collections, its use in America, sometimes abbreviated as in the Baptist Service of Song, Boston. 1871, is somewhat extensive. It is based upon Ralph Erskine's "Aurora veils her rosy face." The second stanza in Berridge reads:β€”

" Releas'd from sin, and toil, and grief,
Death was their gate to endless life;
An open'd cage to let them fly,
And build their happy nest on high."

This reads in Erskine's original:β€”

"Death is to us a sweet repose,
The bud was ope'd to show the rose;
The cage was broke to let us fly
And build our happy nest on high."

The rest of the hymn follows Erskine's line of thought, but there is no repetition of his actual words.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 54 of 54)
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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #1030

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A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #493

Anglican Hymn Book #174

Asaph #d179

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Baptist Chorals #79

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Bible School Echoes, and Sacred Hymns #16b

Gospel Melodies #d112

Gospel Voices No.2 #d95

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Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #1396

Hymns for the Use of the Brethren in Christ #d344

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Hymns of the Christian Life #445

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New Melodies of Praise #96

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Plymouth Collection #a1226

Prayerful Praises. 5th ed. #d117

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Precious Hymns #350

Psalmista #d179

Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship #d605

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Revival Hymns #361

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Selah #58a

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Selah #93c

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Songs of the Covenant #88

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Songs of Zion Enlarged #382

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Songs of Zion #196

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The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book #1226

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The Baptist Praise Book #1063

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The Baptist Psalmody #1266

The Book of Praise #d236

The Book of Praise #d549

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The Brethren Hymnal #555

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The Christian Psalmist; or, Watts' Psalms and Hymns #638

The Church Hymn Book #d392

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The Evangelical Hymnal with Tunes #499

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The New York Choralist #46b

The Olive Branch #d95

The Philharmonia #d313

The Praise #d187

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The Presbyterian Hymnal #772

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The Presbyterian Hymnal #772

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The Primitive Baptist Hymnal #275

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The Psalmist #1180

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The Psalmist #1180

The Psalmodist #d158

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The Psalmody #1186

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The Reformed Church Hymnal #519

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The Riverdale Hymn Book #311

The Service of Song for Baptist Churches #d642

The Social Harp #d221

The Social Harp. Rev. #d262

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The Song Victor for the Sunday School and Public School Use #107

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The Spirit of Praise #485

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The Sweet Singer #9

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