C.H. Spurgeon's Evening Devotional
Sunday June 15, 2025

"He openeth, and no man shutteth."-Revelation 3:7
    
    Jesus is the keeper of the gates of paradise and before every believing soul He setteth an open door, which no man or devil shall be able to close against it. What joy it will be to find that faith in Him is the golden key to the everlasting doors. My soul, dost thou carry this key in thy bosom, or art thou trusting to some deceitful pick-lock, which will fail thee at last? Hear this parable of the preacher, and remember it. The great King has made a banquet, and He has proclaimed to all the world that none shall enter but those who bring with them the fairest flower that blooms. The spirits of men advance to the gate by thousands, and they bring each one the flower which he esteems the queen of the garden; but in crowds they are driven from the royal presence, and enter not into the festive halls. Some bear in their hand the deadly nightshade of superstition, or the flaunting poppies of Rome, or the hemlock of self- righteousness, but these are not dear to the King, the bearers are shut out of the pearly gates. My soul, hast thou gathered the rose of Sharon? Dost thou wear the lily of the valley in thy bosom constantly? If so, when thou comest up to the gates of heaven thou wilt know its value, for thou hast only to show this choicest of flowers, and the Porter will open: not for a moment will He deny thee admission, for to that rose the Porter openeth ever. Thou shalt find thy way with the rose of Sharon in thy hand up to the throne of God Himself, for heaven itself possesses nothing that excels its radiant beauty, and of all the flowers that bloom in paradise there is none that can rival the lily of the valley. My soul, get Calvary's blood-red rose into thy hand by faith, by love wear it, by communion preserve it, by daily watchfulness make it thine all in all, and thou shalt be blessed beyond all bliss, happy beyond a dream. Jesus, be mine for ever, my God, my heaven, my all.
Brought to you by

Put this devotional on your site or Subscribe




Saturday, December 8, 2012

Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Prolific hymn writer Charles Wesley, who helped his brother John begin the Methodist Church, wrote the original words to 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' in 1739 as a Christmas hymn that was published that year in a book called Hymns and Sacred Poems. The first two lines were: "Hark, how the welkin [an old English word for heaven] rings/Glory to the king of kings." But in 1753, Wesley's friend and co-worker George Whitfield changed those lines to the ones we know today: "Hark! The herald angels sing/glory to the newborn king."

The song was originally sung to the tune of 'Christ the Lord is Risen Today'. In 1840, Felix Mendelssohn composed a cantata called 'Festgesang' (Festival Song) to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Gutenberg printing press. The tune that Mendelssohn wrote for that occasion is the one that organist William Hayman Cummings used in 1855 to arrange the lyrics for 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing', resulting in the song that people are familiar with today.

'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing' tells the story of the event recorded in the Bible-after Jesus Christ was born on the first Christmas an angel appeared in the sky to announce Christ's birth and shortly thereafter was joined by a huge amount of other angels singing out praises.

 Fun Fact:
At the end of the popular TV special, A Charlie Brown Christmas, which has aired during every Christmas season since 1965, the Peanuts characters all sing 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.'



Hark! The herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th'angelic host proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ, by highest Heav'n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th'incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris'n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

 Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman's conqu'ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent's head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Adam's likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King!"


Information provided from Devotionals with Christmas Hymns by Cheri Cowell
cyber Hymns



Christmas dangling barline
Posted by at
Labels: , , ,

No comments:

Post a Comment

Thanks for adding a Scrap of your Life.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)