Wednesday Encouragements: Hymn by Adoniram Judson

We have been reading a biography of Adoniram Judson and his wives with the kids. I learned to love the his story and that of his first wife, Ann Hasseltine, at the Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park, where these pioneer missionaries are held up as vocational models of Christian life to the young people. 

Mr. Judson was remarkable as a preacher, teacher, evangelist and translator. He also wrote this beautiful baptismal hymn. 

Come, Holy Spirit, Dove divine,
On these baptismal waters shine,
And teach our hearts, in highest strain,
To praise the Lamb for sinners slain.

We love Your name, we love Your laws,
And joyfully embrace Your cause;
We love Your cross, the shame, the pain,
O Lamb of God, for sinners slain.

We sink beneath the water’s face,
And thank You for Your saving grace;
We die to sin and seek a grave
With You, beneath the yielding wave.

And as we rise with You to live,
O let the Holy Spirit give
The sealing unction from above,
The joy of life, the fire of love.

Click here to hear the music to this hymn, which was composed by H. Percy Smith and is used for other hymns as well. 

I love this hymn for it's imagery, the beauty of its language and its Christ-centeredness. What is your favorite hymn or song.

For a quick overview of the life of Judson, try this article.  The books Bless God and Take Courage by Rosalie Hall Hunt and To The Golden Shore by Courtney Anderson are recommended for further study. Or if you are a teen come to CYC and learn his story there.