The Lord blesses His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11
Words: Warren D. Cornell, August 1889. The words to this song are engraved on Cornell’s tombstone in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Music: William G. Cooper (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Cornell (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels), or a better one of Cooper,
Cornell and Cooper wrote this song at a camp meeting near West Bend, Wisconsin.
One day while seated in the tent, Mr. Cornell, following a period of deep introspection, wrote down the thoughts with which his mind had been busied.
They later proved to be parts of this hymn, Wonderful Peace. Sinking again into introspective rumination, he arose, unwittingly dropped the written verses on the tent floor and went out.
When Mr. Cooper entered the tent an hour or two later he discovered the paper. He was fascinated by the theme and the accompanying verses. It so fitted his own thinking that he filled in and completed the poem. Then, sitting down at the organ, he composed the melody as it has since been sung.
Sanville, p. 58
Far away in the depths
Of my spirit tonight
Rolls a melody sweeter than psalm;
In celestial-like strains
It unceasingly falls
O’er my soul like an infinite calm.
Refrain
Peace, peace, wonderful peace,
Coming down from the Father above!
Sweep over my spirit forever, I pray
In fathomless billows of love!
What a treasure I have
In this wonderful peace,
Buried deep in the heart of my soul,
So secure that no power
Can mine it away,
While the years of eternity roll!
Refrain
I am resting tonight
In this wonderful peace,
Resting sweetly in Jesus’ control;
For I’m kept from all danger
By night and by day,
And His glory is flooding my soul!
Refrain
And I think when I rise
To that city of peace,
Where the anchor of peace I shall see,
That one strain of the song
Which the ransomed will sing
In that heavenly kingdom will be:
Refrain
Ah, soul! are you here
Without comfort and rest,
Marching down the rough pathway of time?
Make Jesus your friend
Ere the shadows grow dark;
O accept this sweet peace so sublime!
Refrain