Powerful Poetry
Some Thoughts on Classical Christian Poetry from
Copyright © 2002 Jim Kerwin
NOTE: To skip the introduction and jump immediately the poems, use the indices just below.
Introduction
Call me retro, old-fashioned, or out-of-touch (my daughters have called me all that and more, at various times, and undoubtedly for good reasons), but I like good poetry. Poets aren’t just people who can rhyme words or write in meter. Real poets, in my humble estimation, are men or women gifted with the ability to express deep yearnings and experiences which all of us share as human beings, but which most of us lack the ability to communicate—or sometimes even to recognize. Poets help us to grasp, for an instant, the sublime, the simple, the soul, and—sometimes—even the deeply spiritual. They elicit of us exclamations of confirmation: “Yes! I know that feeling! You have expressed in words all that is in my heart. You have crystallized something I have sensed for a long time but have never been able to articulate.” True poets seem to write under a sense of inspiration and what they write leaves us inspired as well.
And I use the word inspiration in a sense much closer to the Biblical idea of “God-breathed,” when it comes to classical Christian poets. They were men and women who, first and foremost, knew God intimately, who burned with intense passions to worship and praise Him with all their hearts, minds, souls, and strength. Because they knew God and they learned His Book by heart, their works are full of Biblical quotations, references, and allusions. Knowing God personally and worshipfully, and His Book intimately, their lyric phrases and stanzas are full of profound theological Truth. And because they were masters of their God-given native language and could draw deftly and richly out of the treasure-trove of their mother tongue, they could express, sublimely and under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, what most of us, with our lesser gifts, find to be inexpressible.
Yes, almost all of these creations found their way into hymns; but remember—they were born as poems. We at Finest of the Wheat prayerfully re-introduce these priceless (but neglected or forgotten) treasures to a new generation. May these Poetic Pearls of Praise inspire purer and deeper expressions of passionate worship to our loving God. May they help channel hearts, souls, minds, and spirits towards the Throne of Grace, while edifying the inner man and the mind of the believer. We will start out small, perhaps adding only one poem per month, and add to the list as God gives us grace and strength and allots us the time. May you be edified, enriched, and released into new avenues of adoration by means of these Treasures from the Chief Musician’s Trove.
Feel free to continue scrolling down the page at this point, or use the indices in the upper right-hand corner of this page to help you locate certain items alphaetically.
New in Powerful Poetry
- New Poetry: In his anthem There Is Singing Up In Heaven Johnson Oatman, Jr. plays off of 1 Peter 1:12, and proposes that even the worshipping angels “cannot join the song” sung by those redeemed by Jesus’ precious blood. Posted on 01 Sep.
- New Poetry: George F. Root lyrically recounts the Gospel story of the woman with the issue of blood (Matthew 9:20-22; Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48) in his song She Only Touched the Hem of His Garment. Posted on 01 Aug.
Poems by First Line or Title
A
- A Charge to Keep I Have by Charles Wesley
- A Mind at Perfect Peace with God by Catesby Paget
- A Pearl-Strewn Pathway by Frances Ridley Havergal
- Advent Sunday by Reginald Heber
- Alas, and Did My Saviour Bleed? by Isaac Watts
- All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name by Edward Perronet
- All Thanks to the Lamb by Charles Wesley
- All Things Are Possible to Him by Charles Wesley
- Amazing Grace by John Newton
- Arise, My Soul, Arise by Charles and John Wesley
- At the Name of Jesus by Caroline M. Noel
B
- Be Thou Removed by Joseph Ellison
- Begin, My Soul, Some Heavenly Theme by Isaac Watts
- Behold the Saviour of Mankind by Samuel Wesley
- Behold, the Grace Appears by Isaac Watts
- Blessed Lord, In Thee Is Refuge by Herbert Booth
- Blest Are the Humble Souls that See by Isaac Watts
- Blest Are the Humble Souls that See by Isaac Watts. (This is a presentation of the hymn that parallels Watts’ verses with the text of Matthew 5:2-12.)
- Blest Spirit! from the Eternal Sire by John Wesley
- Burial of Moses (also known by its first line, By Nebo's Lonely Mountain) by Cecil Frances Alexander
C
- Christ the Lord Is Risen Today! by Charles Wesley
- Christmas Day by Reginald Heber
- Church of God, Beloved and Chosen by Frances Ridley Havergal
- Come, All Ye Chosen Saints of God by Joseph Hart
- Come, Holy Ghost, All Quickening Fire [version 1] by Charles and John Wesley
- Come, Holy Ghost, All Quickening Fire [version 2] by Charles and John Wesley
- Come, My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare by John Newton
- Come, O My God, The Promise Seal by Charles Wesley
- Come, Saviour, Jesus, from Above!
by Antoinette Bourignon
tranlsated by John Wesley - Come, O Thou Traveller Unknown by Charles Wesley (also known as Wrestling Jacob)
- Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing by Robert Robinson
- Come, Ye Thankful People Come by Henry Alford
- Come, Ye that Love the Lord by Isaac Watts and Robert Lowry (also known as We’re Marching to Zion)
- Come On, My Partners in Distress by Charles Wesley
- Consecration Hymn by Chaplain Charles C. McCabe
D
- Dear Lord and Father of Mankind by John Greenleaf Whittier
- Desire Of God by Frederick W. Faber
- Dwelling in Beulah Land by C. Austin Miles
E
F
- Faith of Our Fathers by Frederick W. Faber
- Far Away the Noise of Strife by C. Austin Miles
- Father, I Dare Believe by Charles Wesley
- Father of Jesus Christ My Lord by Charles Wesley
- Fed Upon the Finest of the Wheat by Frederick A. Graves (also known by its first line, Hungry, Lord, for Thy Word of Truth)
- Fourth Sunday in Advent by Reginald Heber
G
- Get The Flame! (Anonymous; from the Azusa Street Revival)
- Gethsemane by Joseph Hart
- Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken by John Newton
- Glory to God and Praise and Love by Charles Wesley (a hymn more popularly known today as O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing)
- God in Heaven Hath a Treasure by Emma Frances Bevan
- God Moves in a Mysterious Way by William Cowper
- God of All Power, and Truth, and Grace by Charles Wesley
H
- Hallelujah! What a Savior! by Philip P. Bliss
- Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing by Charles Wesley
- Have Thine Own Way, Lord! by Adelaide Pollard
- He Keeps Me Singing by Luther Bridgers
- Help, Lord, the Busy Foe by Charles Wesley
- Holy As Thou, O Lord, Is None by Charles Wesley
- Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty! by Reginald Heber
- Hosanna to the Living Lord! by Reginald Heber
- How Happy Is the Pilgrim's Lot! by Charles and John Wesley
- How I Praise Thee, Precious Saviour by Mary E. Maxwell
- How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds by John Newton
- Hungry, Lord, for Thy Word of Truth by Frederick A. Graves (also known by its title, Fed Upon the Finest of the Wheat)
- Hymn to Be Sung on the Anniversary of One's Birth by Charles Wesley (a hymn more popularly known today as O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing)
I
- I Am Coming to the Cross by William McDonald
- I Am Thine, O Lord by Fanny J. Crosby
- I Believe Jesus Saves by Francis Bottome
- I Gave My Life for Thee by Frances Ridley Havergal
- I Know Not Why God's Wondrous Grace (better known by its chorus as I Know Whom I Have Believed) by Daniel Webster Whittle
- I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord! by Timothy Dwight
- I Want a Principle Within by Charles Wesley
- I Worship Thee, Sweet Will of God by Frederick W. Faber
- I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath by Isaac Watts
- I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath by Isaac Watts. (This is a presentation of the hymn that parallels Watts’ verses with the text of Psalm 146.)
- I've Reached the Land of Corn and Wine by Edgar Page Stites
- Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise by Walter Smith
- In Heavenly Love Abiding by Anna Waring
- Infinite, Unexhausted Love! by Charles Wesley
- It Passeth Knowledge, That Dear Love of Thine by Mary Shekelford
J
- Jesu, Come, My Hope of Glory by Charles Wesley
- Jesu, Thou Strength of All That Turn by Charles Wesley
- Jesu, Thy Blood and Righteousness by Nikolaus Ludwig, Graf (Count) von Zinzendorf (translated by John Wesley)
- Jesus Hath Died that I Might Live by Charles Wesley
- Jesus, I Am Resting, Resting by Jean Sophia Pigott
- Jesus Shall Reign by Isaac Watts
- Jesus! The Name High Over All by Charles Wesley
- Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me by Paul Gerhardt, translated by John Wesley
- Jesus Christ Is Made to Me by Charles P. Jones
- Joy in the Holy Ghost by John Mason
- Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee by Henry J. van Dyke
K
L
- Let Earth and Heaven Combine by Charles Wesley
- Let Me Burn Out for Thee, Dear Lord by Bessie Hatcher
- Let Us Sing of His Love Once Again by Francis Bottome
- Light of Life, Seraphic Fire by Charles Wesley
- Like A River Glorious by Frances Ridley Havergal
- Lo! I Come With Joy To Do by Charles Wesley
- Lord, Her Watch Thy Church Is Keeping by Henry Downton
- Lord, I Believe A Rest Remains by Charles and John Wesley
- Lord, I Believe Thy Work of Grace by Charles Wesley
- Lord, I Hear Showers of Blessing by Elizabeth H. Codher
- Lord Jesus, Make Thyself to Me by Anonymous
- Lovely Lamb, I Come to Thee by Charles Wesley
- Low in the Grave He Lay by Robert_Lowry
M
- “Man of Sorrows,” What a Name! by Philip P. Bliss
- Marching to Zion by Isaac Watts and Robert Lowry
- Master, Speak! Thy Servant Heareth (also known as Master, Say On!) by Frances Ridley Havergal
- My Body, Soul, and Spirit by Chaplain Charles C. McCabe
- My Goal Is God Himself by Frederick Brook
- My God, How Wonderful Thou Art! by Frederick W. Faber
- My Soul and I by John Greenleaf Whittier
- My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord by John Mason
N
- New Every Morning Is the Love by John Keble
- New Year's Wishes by Frances Ridley Havergal
- None Is Like Jeshurun's God by Charles Wesley
- Now in a Song of Grateful Praise by Samuel Medley
O
- O Beulah Land by Edgar Page Stites
- O for a Closer Walk with God by William Cowper
- O For A Heart To Praise My God by Charles Wesley
- O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing by Charles Wesley, or, as known by its original title, Hymn to Be Sung on the Anniversary of One's Conversion
- O Glorious Hope of Perfect Love by Charles Wesley
- O God, Our Help in Ages Past by Isaac Watts
- O God, the World Is Lost in Sin by Bessie Hatcher
- O God, What Offering Shall I Give by Joachim Lange and translated by John Wesley
- O How the Thought of God Attracts by Frederick W. Faber
- O Jesus, Make Thyself to Me by Charlotte Elliott
- O Jesus, The Rest by Charles Wesley
- O Joyful Sound of Gospel Grace! by Charles Wesley
- O Love Divine, How Sweet Thou Art! by Charles Wesley
- O Perfect Love by Dorothy Gurney
- O Sacred Head, Now Wounded by Bernard of Clairvaux and Paul Gerhardt (translated by James W. Alexander)
- O Saviour, Precious Saviour by Frances Ridley Havergal
- O Soul, Are You Weary and Troubled? otherwise known as Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus by Helen Lemmel
- O the Bitter Shame and Sorrow by Theordore Monod
- O, the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus! by Samuel Trevor Francis
- O Thou Who Camest From Above by Charles Wesley
- O Worship the King! by Robert Grant
- O Zion, Haste! by Mary Ann Thomson
- Of Him Who Did Salvation Bring by Bernard of Clairvaux
- Oh for Freedom, for Freedom in Worshipping God by Frederick W. Faber
- Oh Saviour, Is Thy Promise Fled? by Reginald Heber
- Oh Saviour, Whom This Happy Morn by Reginald Heber
- On Our Way Rejoicing! by Frances Ridley Havergal
- On the Victory Side by James L. Black
- Our Blest Redeemer, Ere He Breathed by Harriet Auber
- Our Souls Cry Out, Hallelujah! by James L. Black
P
R
- Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It! by Fanny J. Crosby
- Rejoice, the Lord Is King by Charles Wesley
- Rise Up, O Men of God! by William Merrill
- Rock of Ages by Augustus M. Toplady
S
- Saviour, Like A Shepherd Lead Us by Dorothy Thrupp
- Saviour from Sin, I Want to Prove by Charles and John Wesley
- Second Sunday in Advent by Reginald Heber
- See How Great a Flame Aspires! by Charles Wesley
- Send the Fire! by William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army
- She Only Touched the Hem of His Garment by George Root
- Since the Son Hath Made Me Free by Charles and John Wesley
- Sinners, Obey the Gospel-Word! by Charles Wesley
- Some Day the Silver Cord Will Break by Fanny Crosby
- Sound the Battle Cry! by William Sherwin
- Speak, Lord, in the Stillness by E. May Grimes
- Spirit of Faith, Come Down by Charles Wesley
- Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart by George Croly
- Sunday by Frederick W. Faber
- Sweeping Through the Gates of the New Jerusalem by Tullius Clinton O'Kane
T
- Take My Life And Let It Be by Frances Ridley Havergal
- Take Time To Be Holy by William D. Longstaff
- Talk With Us, Lord by Charles Wesley
- Ten Thousand Times Ten Thousand by Henry Alford
- The Babes in Christ Should Nothing Know by Charles Wesley
- The Brewing of Soma by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Church’s One Foundation by Samuel J. Stone
- The Galilean Fishers Toil by Christopher Wordsworth
- The God of Abraham Praise by Thomas Olivers
- The Lord Will Come! by Reginald Heber
- The Mystic’s Christmas by John Greenleaf Whittier
- The Nativity of Christ by Isaac Watts
- The New Song by A. T. Pierson
- The World Is Grown Old by Reginald Heber
- There Is a Fountain Filled with Blood by William Cowper
- There Is Singing Up In Heaven by Johnson Oatman, Jr.
- There's a Wideness in God's Mercy by Frederick W. Faber
- There's within My Heart a Melody by Luther Bridgers
- They Who Know the Saviour by Mrs. C. H. Morris
- Third Sunday in Advent by Reginald Heber
- This Is My Father's World! by Maltbie Babcock
- This Same Jesus by Frances Ridley Havergal
- Thou Christ of Burning, Cleansing Flame by William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army
- Thou Hidden Love Of God by Gerhard Tersteegen and translated by John Wesley
- Thou Lamb of God by Christian Friedrich Richter and translated by John Wesley
- Thou Thinkest, Lord, of Me by Edmund S. Lorenz
- Thou Whose Name Is Called Jesus by Jean Sophia Pigott
- Through All the Changing Scenes by Nahum Tate and Nicholas Brady
- Time Speeds Away by Vicesemus Knox
- ’Tis Finished! The Messiah Dies by Charles Wesley
- To God Be the Glory by Fanny J. Crosby
- To the Haven of Thy Breast by Charles and John Wesley
- Truehearted, Wholehearted, Faithful and Loyal by Frances Ridley Havergal
- Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus otherwise known as O Soul, Are You Weary and Troubled? by Helen Lemmel
W
- Walk in the Light by Bernard Barton
- Welcome, Sweet Day of Rest by Isaac Watts
- What Am I, O Thou Glorious God by Charles Wesley
- When All Thy Mercies, O My God by Joseph Addison
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross by Isaac Watts
- When Spring Unlocks the Flowers by Reginald Heber
- When the Great Sun Sinks to His Rest by Maltbie Babcock
- Where Is My God, My Joy, My Hope? by Charles Wesley
- Whether the Word Be Preached of Read by Charles Wesley
- While the Fire of God Is Falling (Anonymous)
- Who Is On The Lord’s Side? by Frances Ridley Havergal
- Wise Men Seeking Jesus by James T. East
- With Gladness We Worship by George Rawson
- With Harps and with Vials by A. T. Pierson
- Workman of God by Frederick W. Faber
- Wrestling Jacob by Charles Wesley (also known as Come, O Thou Traveller Unknown)
Y
Poems by First Line of Chorus
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
- Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing
- Hallelujah! What a Savior!
- He Is All I Need
- Holy, holy, is what the angels sing
- Hosanna! Lord! Hosanna in the Highest!
I
- I'm Living on the Mountain
- I Am Trusting, Lord, in Thee
- I Believe Jesus Saves
- I Know Whom I Have Believed
J
L
M
O
- O Beulah Land, Sweet Beulah Land
- Oh, Touch the Hem of His Garment!
- On Our Way Rejoicing!
- On the Victory Side
P
- Peal out the watchword! Silence it never!
- Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
- Publish glad tidings, tidings of peace
R
S
- Send the Fire!
- Stayed Upon Jehovah Hearts Are Fully Blessed
- Sweeping Through the Gates of the New Jerusalem
T
U
V
W
Poems by Author’s Last Name
A
B
- Babcock, Maltbie
- Barton, Bernard
- Bernard of Clairvaux
- Bevan, Emma Frances
- Black, James
- Bliss, Philip P.
- Booth, Herbert
- Booth, William
- Bottome, Francis
- Bourignon, Antoinette
- Brady, Nicholas
- Bridgers, Luther
- Brook, Frederick
C
D
E
F
G
H
- Hart, Joseph
- Hatcher_Bessie
- Havergal, Frances Ridley
- A Pearl-Strewn Pathway
- Church of God, Beloved and Chosen
- I Gave My Life for Thee
- Like A River Glorious
- Master, Say On!
- Master, Speak! Thy Servant Heareth
- New Year's Wishes
- O Saviour, Precious Saviour
- On Our Way Rejoicing!
- Take My Life And Let It Be
- This Same Jesus
- Truehearted, Wholehearted, Faithful and Loyal
- Who Is On The Lord’s Side?
- Heber, Reginald
- Advent Sunday
- Christmas Day
- Fourth Sunday in Advent
- Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!
- Hosanna to the Living Lord!
- Oh Saviour, Is Thy Promise Fled?
- Oh Saviour, Whom This Holy Morn
- Second Sunday in Advent
- The Lord Will Come!
- The World Is Grown Old
- Third Sunday in Advent
- When Spring Unlocks the Flowers
K
K
L
M
- Mason, John
- Maxwell, Mary E.
- How I Praise Thee, Precious Saviour, also known as Channels Only
- McCabe, Charles C.
- McDonald, William
- Medley, Samuel
- Merritt, William
- Miles, C. Austin
- Monod, Theodore
- Morris, Leila Naylor (Mrs. C. H. Morris)
N
- Nathan, El (a pseudonym of Daniel Webster Whittle)
- Newton, John
- Noel, Caroline M.
O
P
R
S
T
V
W
- Waring, Anna
- Watts, Isaac
- Alas, and Did My Saviour Bleed?
- Begin, My Soul, Some Heavenly Theme
- Behold, The Grace Appears
- Blest Are the Humble Souls that See
- Blest Are the Humble Souls that See (This is a presentation of the hymn that parallels Watts’ verses with the text of Matthew 5:2-12.)
- Come, Ye That Love The Lord
- I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath
- I’ll Praise My Maker While I’ve Breath (This is a presentation of the hymn that parallels Watts’ verses with the text of Psalm 146.)
- Jesus Shall Reign
- O God, Our Help in Ages Past
- The Nativity of Christ
- We’re Marching to Zion
- Welcome, Sweet Day of Rest
- When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
- Wesley, Charles
- A Charge to Keep I Have
- All Thanks to the Lamb
- All Things Are Possible to Him
- Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!
- Come, O My God, the Promise Seal
- Come, O Thou Traveller Unknown
- Come On, My Partners in Distress
- Father, I Dare Believe
- Father of Jesus Christ My Lord
- Glory to God and Praise and Love
- God of All Power, and Truth and Grace
- Hark! The Herald-Angels Sing
- Help, Lord, the Busy Foe
- Holy As Thou, O Lord, Is None
- Hymn to Be Sung on the Anniversary of One’s Conversion
- I Want a Principle Within
- Infinite, Unexhausted Love!
- Jesu, Come, My Hope of Glory
- Jesu, Thou Strength of All That Turn
- Jesus Hath Died that I Might Live
- Jesus! The Name High Over All
- Let Earth and Heaven Combine
- Light of Life, Seraphic Fire
- Lo! I Come With Joy To Do
- Lord, I Believe Thy Work of Grace
- Lovely Lamb, I Come to Thee
- None Is Like Jeshurun's God
- O for a Heart to Praise My God
- O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing
- O Glorious Hope of Perfect Love
- O Jesus, The Rest
- O Joyful Sound of Gospel Grace!
- O Love Divine, How Sweet Thou Art!
- O Thou Who Camest From Above
- Prisoners of Hope, Arise
- Rejoice, the Lord Is King
- See How Great a Flame Aspires!
- Sinners, Obey the Gospel-Word!
- Spirit of Faith, Come Down
- Talk With Us, Lord
- The Babes in Christ Should Nothing Know
- The Promise of Sanctification
- ’Tis Finished! The Messiah Dies
- What Am I, O Thou Glorious God
- Where Is My God, My Joy, My Hope?
- Whether the Word Be Preached or Read
- Wrestling Jacob
- Ye Ransomed Sinners, Hear
- Wesley, Charles and John
- Arise, My Soul, Arise
- Come, Holy Ghost, All Quickening Fire (1)
- Come, Holy Ghost, All Quickening Fire (2)
- Enslaved to Sense, to Pleasure Prone
- How Happy Is the Pilgrim’s Lot!
- Lord, I Believe A Rest Remains
- Saviour from Sin, I Want to Prove
- Since the Son Hath Made Me Free
- To the Haven of Thy Breast
- Ye Servants of God
- Wesley, John
- Wesley, Samuel
- Whittier, John Greenleaf
- Whittle, Daniel Webster
- Wordsworth, Christopher
Z
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Poetry: There Is Singing Up In Heaven, and Johnson Oatman seems almost to hear it.Audio: Jim Kerwin looks at Jesus’ response to Peter’s question, “What Shall This Man Do?”.
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Audio: Jim Kerwin opens Jesus’ words in Matthew 10 about The Cost of Doing Kingdom Business.



