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O how can I forget the hour

Representative Text

1 Oh! how can I forget the hour,
When love divine I found;
The place was fill'd with sacred power,
And glory beam'd around:
My soul, relieved from sorrow's load,
From guilty bondage free,
Adored with joy the pardoning God,
That show'd such love to me.

2 For me, the earth and skies rejoiced
That I no more was sad;
The thirsty land with dew was moist,
The wilderness was glad;
The scenes of nature, then how bright,
My eyes rejoiced to view,
I praised the Lord with warm delight,
And thought they praised him too.

3 My darkness then to light gave place,
My guilt, to pardon free,
My rags of sin, to robes of grace,
And bonds, to liberty;
I toil'd no more, a wandering child,
In slavish, base employ,
But, safe at home, my Father smiled,
And feasted me with joy.

4 Nor did I then that bliss confine
Within my bounding breast;
The friends who pour'd their tears with mine,
Were sharers in the feast;
And angels on their watchful posts,
With gladness hasted round,
To tell to all the heavenly hosts,
"The long lost child is found."

Source: The Minstrel of Zion: a book of religious songs, accompanied with appropriate music, chiefly original #62

Author: William Hunter

Hunter, William, D.D, son of John Hunter, was born near Ballymoney, County Antrim, Ireland, May 26, 1811. He removed to America in 1817, and entered Madison College in 1830. For some time he edited the Conference Journal, and the Christian Advocate. In 1855 he was appointed Professor of Hebrew in Alleghany College: and subsequently Minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Alliance, Stark Country, Ohio. He died in 1877. He edited Minstrel of Zion, 1845; Select Melodies, 1851; and Songs of Devotion, 1859. His hymns, over 125 in all, appeared in these works. Some of these have been translated into various Indian languages. The best known are :— 1. A home in heaven; what a joyful thought. Heaven a Home. From his Minstrel of Zion, 1… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O how can I forget the hour
Author: William Hunter
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 5 of 5)
Page Scan

Golden Songs #95

The Camp Meeting Singer #d11

TextPage Scan

The Minstrel of Zion #62

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