The one thing needful, that good part

Representative Text

1 The one thing needful, that good part,
Which Mary chose with all her heart,
I would pursue with heart and mind,
And seek unwearied till I find.

2 But, oh! I'm blind and ignorant,
The Spirit of the Lord I want
To guide me in the narrow road,
That leads to happiness and God.

3 O Lord, my God, to thee I pray,
Teach me to know, and find the way,
How I may have my sins forgiven,
And safe, and surely get to heaven.

4 My mind enlighten with thy light,
That I may understand aright
The glorious gospel mystery,
Which shows the way to heaven and thee.

5 Hidden in Christ the treasure lies,
That goodly pearl of so great price;
No other way but Christ, there is
To endless happiness and bliss.

6 O Jesus Christ, my Lord and God,
Who hast redeemed me by thy blood;
Unite my heart so fast to thee,
That we may never parted be.

The Christian's duty, exhibited in a series of hymns, 1791

Author: Benjamin Ingham

Ingham, Benjamin, M.A. The details of the life of this hymn-writer are given in the article on Inghamite Hymnody. Ingham's hymns appeared in the Kendal Hymn Book, 1757, and in various editions of the English Moravian Hymn Book. The 1886 edition of the Moravian Hymn Book contains the following hymns by him:— 1. Jesus, my Saviour, full of grace. Jesus All in All 2. The one thing needful, that good part. Mary's Choice. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)  Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The one thing needful, that good part
Author: Benjamin Ingham
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

HAMBURG

Lowell Mason (PHH 96) composed HAMBURG (named after the German city) in 1824. The tune was published in the 1825 edition of Mason's Handel and Haydn Society Collection of Church Music. Mason indicated that the tune was based on a chant in the first Gregorian tone. HAMBURG is a very simple tune with…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 17 of 17)

A Choice Selection of Hymns. 6th ed. #d241

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. Rev. ed. #d711

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A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #672

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A Hymn and Prayer-Book #108

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Christian's Duty, exhibited in a series of hymns #282

Conference Hymns, Original and Selected. Vol. 2 #d43

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Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #379

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Hymnal and Liturgies of the Moravian Church #444

Hymns for Schools and Families #d145

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The Christian's Duty #CCLXXXII

TextPage Scan

The Christians Duty, exhibited, in a series of Hymns #CCLXXXII

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The Liturgy and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum #301

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Offices of Worship and Hymns #353

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