September 9, 2005

Have faith in God –
As Isaac before;
Have faith in God –
For the less and the more;
Have faith in God –
On sea or on shore.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Immortal, Invisible

Walter Chalmers Smith, 1824-1908

    Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1:17.

    Consider this ancient advice from a father to his son:  First of all, my child, think magnificently of God. Magnify Him for His providence; adore Him for His power, pray to Him frequently and incessantly. Bear Him always in your mind. Teach your thoughts to reverence Him in every place, for there is no place where He is not. Therefore, my child, fear and worship and love God; first and last, think magnificently of Him! ~Paternus, Advice to a Son~
    The author of the fine worshipful text of "Immortal, Invisible" was Walter Chalmers Smith, a pastor and an important leader of the Free churches of Scotland. He had various volumes of his poetry published, including several hymnals. "Immortal, Invisible" was first published in Smith's 1867 hymnal, Hymns of Christ and the Christian Life.
    One can reflect at length on the greatness of God as described by these words.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.

All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart.

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