Scripture Verse

Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

Introduction

Words: Mrs. L. R. Beth­el, in Har­vest Bells No. 1, ed­it­ed by Will­iam Penn (Cin­cin­na­ti, Ohio: John Church, 1887), alt.

Music: Al­chevsk Will­iam E. Penn (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Bethel’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of her or Penn (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

In the meet­ing at Lea­ven­worth, Kan­sas, Mrs. Beth­el, who is a wife, and the mo­ther of se­ver­al child­ren, made a pub­lic con­fess­ion of a hope in Christ she had con­cealed since she was four­teen years old, be­cause it was not as she thought it would be.

After her marr­iage she wait­ed for her hus­band to lead the way, but he be­came ve­ry skep­ti­cal. Her hus­band was con­vert­ed the next day.

William E. Penn, 1887

Lyrics

If you have a hope in Je­sus,
Tho’ that hope be e’er so small,
Years, per­haps, you have con­cealed it,
Heeding not the Sav­ior’s call.

Refrain

Oh, to have a hope in Je­sus!
’Tis more pre­cious far than gold;
Come, pro­claim it for His glo­ry,
Let the world this pearl be­hold.

Wait not for your friends or loved ones,
Waiting ne­ver can be blest;
Cast on Je­sus all your bur­dens,
Trust Him free­ly for the rest.

Refrain

Did your hope come un­ex­pect­ed,
Not just what you thought ’twould be?
Be not by your doubts af­fright­ed;
Jesus says Come un­to Me.

Refrain

Come, ye wea­ry, hea­vy la­den,
I will sure­ly give you rest.
Think not then your load will light­en
While you will not Him con­fess.

Refrain