Scripture Verse

Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

Introduction

Words: Will­iam Rus­sell, 1826. The words are from a po­em Rus­sell wrote at the re­quest of Hen­ry Ware, ed­it­or of the Chris­tian Ex­am­in­er, where it was first pub­lished.

Music: Gal­i­lee (Hol­born), in The Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Hym­nal Sup­ple­ment with Tunes, ed­it­ed by George Booth (Lon­don: Pri­mi­tive Me­tho­dist Pub­lish­ing House, 1912), num­ber 27 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Rus­sell (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

Lyrics

O’er the dark wave of Galilee
The gloom of twilight gathers fast,
And on the waters drearily
Descends the fitful evening blast.

The weary bird hath left the air
And sunk into his sheltered nest;
The wandering beast has sought his lair
And laid him down to welcome rest.

Still near the lake with weary tread
Lingers a form of human kind;
And on His lone unsheltered head
Flows the chill night damp of the wind.

Why seeks He not a home of rest?
Why seeks He not a pillowed bed?
Beasts have their dens, the bird its nest;
He hath not where to lay His head.

Such was the lot He freely chose
To bless, to save the human race;
And through His poverty there flows
A rich full stream of heavenly grace.