Scripture Verse

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! Psalm 133:1

Introduction

portrait
Charles Coffin (1676–1749)

Words: Charles Cof­fin, in the Pa­ris Bre­vi­ary, 1736 (O quam ju­vat frat­res, De­us). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John Chand­ler, Hymns of the Pri­mi­tive Church, 1837.

Music: Mel­combe Sam­uel Webbe, Sr., 1782 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

portrait
Samuel Webbe (1740–1816)

Lyrics

O Lord, how joy­ful ’tis to see
The breth­ren join in love to Thee!
On Thee alone their heart re­lies
Their on­ly strength Thy grace sup­plies.

How sweet with­in Thy ho­ly place
With one ac­cord to sing Thy grace,
Besieging Thine at­tent­ive ear
With all the force of fer­vent pray­er!

O may we love the house of God,
Of peace and joy the blest abode;
O may no an­gry strife de­stroy
That sac­red peace, that ho­ly joy.

The world with­out may rage, but we
Will on­ly cling more close to Thee,
With hearts to Thee more whol­ly giv’n,
More weaned from earth, more fixed on Heav’n.

Lord, show­er up­on us from above
The sac­red gift of mu­tu­al love;
Each oth­er’s wants may we sup­ply,
And reign to­ge­ther in the sky.

Praise God, from whom all bless­ings flow,
Praise Him, all crea­tures here be­low,
Praise Him above, an­gel­ic host,
Praise Fa­ther, Son and Ho­ly Ghost.