September 6, 2005

Have faith in God –
And Christ’s own speech;
Have faith in God –
To time’s last reach;
Have faith in God –
For all and each.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Brethren, We Have Met to Worship

George Atkins, 19th Century

    This interesting hymn has been a favorite, especially in the Southern United States, since it first appeared in 1825. Nothing is known of George Atkins, the author of this beloved text.

Brethren, we have met to worship and adore the Lord our God;
Will you pray with all your power, while we try to preach the Word?
All is vain unless the Spirit of the Holy One comes down;
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around!

Brethren, see poor sinners round you slumbering on the brink of woe;
Death is coming, hell is moving, can you bear to let them go?
See our fathers and our mothers, and our children sinking down?
Brethren, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around!

Sisters, will you join and help us? Moses’ sister aided him;
Will you help the trembling mourners who are struggling hard with sin?
Tell them all about the Savior, tell them that He will be found;
Sisters, pray, and holy manna will be showered all around!

Is there a trembling jailer, seeking grace, and filled with tears?
Is there here a weeping Mary, pouring forth a flood of tears?
Brethren, join your cries to help them; sisters, let your prayers abound;
Pray, Oh pray that holy manna may be scattered all around!

Let us love our God supremely, let us love each other, too;
Let us love and pray for sinners, till our God makes all things new.
Then He’ll call us home to Heaven, at His table we’ll sit down;
Christ will gird Himself and serve us with sweet manna all around!

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission