Scripture Verse

Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. Revelation 22:7

Introduction

Words: Ap­peared in Young’s Chris­tian Com­pan­ion, 1826. Adapt­ed by Mar­tin Da­kin in White Robes for the Sun­day-School, by Alon­zo Ab­bey & Mer­ritt J. Mun­ger (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ol­iv­er Dit­son, 1879), pag­es 62–63.

Music: Alon­zo J. Ab­bey (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

How painfully pleasing
The fond recollection
Of youthful connections
And innocent joy!
When blest with parental
Advice and affection;
Surrounded with mercies,
With peace from on high.
I still view the chairs
Of my sire and my mother,
The seats of their offspring
As ranged on each hand;
And that richest of books,
Which excelled every other,
The family Bible,
Which lay on the stand.

Refrain

The old fashioned Bible,
The dear, blessèd Bible,
The family Bible
Which lay on the stand.

That Bible, the volume
Of God’s inspiration,
At noon and at evening
Could give us delight;
And the prayer of our sire
Was a sweet invocation,
For mercy by day
And for safety thro’ night;
Our hymns of thanksgiving
With harmony swelling
All warm from the hearts
Of that family band,
Half raised us from earth
To that rapturous dwelling
Described in the Bible
That lay on the stand.

Refrain

Ye scenes of tranquility!
Long have we parted;
My hope’s almost gone,
And my parents no more;
In sorrow and sadness
I live broken-hearted,
And wander unknown
On a far distant shore;
Yet, how can I doubt my
Dear Savior’s protection,
Forgetful of gifts
From His bountiful hand!
Oh! let me with patience
Endure His correction,
And think of the Bible
That lay on the stand.

Refrain

Hail, rising the brightest
And best of the morning,
The star which has guided
My parents safe home;
The beam of thy glory,
My pathway adorning,
Shall scatter the darkness
And brighten the gloom.
As the old eastern sages
To worship the stranger
Did hasten with ecstasy
To Canaan’s land,
I’ll bow to adore Him,
Not in a low manger,
He’s seen in the Bible
That lay on the stand.

Refrain

Though age and misfortune
Press hard on my feelings,
I’ll flee to the Bible,
And trust in the Lord;
Though darkness should cover
His merciful dealings,
My soul is still cheered by
His heavenly Word.
And now from things earthly
My soul is removing
I soon shall glory
With Heaven’s bright bands,
And in rapture of joy
Be forever adoring
The God of the Bible
That lay on the stand.

Refrain