1 How sweet to wait upon the Lord,
While he fulfils his gracious word;
To seek his face, and not in vain,
To be beloved, and love again!
2 To see, while prostrate at his feet,
Jehovah on the mercy-seat;
And Jesus, at the Lord’s right hand,
With his divine atonement stand!
3 “Father,” he cries, “I will that these
Before thee on their bended knees,
For whom my life I once laid down,
Be with me soon on this my throne.”
4 Amen! our hearts with rapture cry,
May we with reverence look so high;
Ascended Saviour, fix our eyes,
By faith upon this glorious prize!
5 With this delightful prospect fired,
We’ll run, nor in thy ways be tired;
And all the trials here we see,
Will make us long to reign with thee.
Source: A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #387
Swain, Joseph, was born at Birmingham in 1761, and after being apprenticed to an engraver, removed to London. After a time he became a decided Christian, and being of an emotional poetic temperament, began to give expression to his new thoughts and feelings in hymns. In 1783 he was baptized by the Rev. Dr. Rippon, and in 1791 became minister of a Baptist congregation in East Street, Walworth. After a short but popular and very useful ministry, he died April 16, 1796 Swain published the following:—
(1) A Collection of Poems on Several Occasions, London, 1781; (2) Redemption, a Poem in five Books, London, 1789; (3) Experimental Essays on Divine Subjects, London, 1791; (4) Walworth Hymns, by J. Swain, Pastor of the Baptist Church Meeting… Go to person page >
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