Holy Days

Representative Text

1 Some Christians to the Lord regard a day,
And others to the Lord regard it not.
Now, tho' these seem to choose a diff'rent way,
yet both at last to one same point ar brought.

2 He that regards the day will reason thus:
"This glorious day our Saviour and oru King
Perform'd some might act of love for us;
Observe in time the mem'ry of the thing."

3 Thus he to Jesus points his kind intent,
And offers pray'rs and praises in his name.
As to the Lord alone his love is meant,
The Lord accepts it. And who dares to blame?

4 For, though the shell indeed is not the meat,
'tis not rejected when the meat's within;
Though superstition is a vain conceit,
Commemoration surely is not sin.

5 He also that to days has no regard,
The shadows only for the substance quits;
Towards the Saviour's presence presses hard,
And outward things thro' eagerness omits.

6 for warmly to himself he thus reflects;
"My Lord alone i count my chiefest good;
All empty forms my craving soul rejects,
And seeks the solid riches of his blood.

7 "All days and times I place my soul delight
In him, the only object of my care;
External shows for his dear sake I slight,
Lest aught but Jesus my respect should share."

8 Let not th' observer, therefore, entertain
Against his brother any secret grudge:
Nor let the non-observer call him vain,
But use his freedom, and forbear to judge.

9 Thus both may bring their motives to the test;
Our condescending Lord will both approve.
Let each pursue the way that like him best;
He cannot walk amiss that walks in love.

Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #784

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Alterer: J. Hart

Hart, Joseph, was born in London in 1712. His early life is involved in obscurity. His education was fairly good; and from the testimony of his brother-in-law, and successor in the ministry in Jewin Street, the Rev. John Hughes, "his civil calling was" for some time "that of a teacher of the learned languages." His early life, according to his own Experience which he prefaced to his Hymns, was a curious mixture of loose conduct, serious conviction of sin, and endeavours after amendment of life, and not until Whitsuntide, 1757, did he realize a permanent change, which was brought about mainly through his attending divine service at the Moravian Chapel, in Fetter Lane, London, and hearing a sermon on Rev. iii. 10. During the next two years ma… Go to person page >

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