There’s a precedent for our current practice of projecting the text for hymns and choruses on screens in churches today, and it’s not based on technology. Most of the old hymnals from the 18th and 19th centuries had no music, simply lyrics, yet they seemed to get along quite well. Their hymns frequently had more verses than we see today, but they did have preferred verses, and marked the less popular or throw-away verses with brackets.
This hymn came from Gadsby’s Hymns, #61. According to Gadsby’s notes, it is based on Acts 13:48, “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.” and Romans 8:30 “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
‘Twas fixed in God’s eternal mind
When his dear sons should mercy find;
From everlasting he decreed
When every good should be conyeyed.
Determined was the manner how
Eternal favours he’d bestow;
Yea, he decreed the very place
Where he would show triumphant grace.
Also the means were fixed upon
Thro’ which his sovereign love should run
So time and place, yea, means and mode,
Were all determined by our God.
Vast were the settlements of grace
On millions of the human race;
And every favour, richly given,
Flows from the high decree of heaven.
In every mercy, full and free,
A sovereign God I wish to see;
To see how grace, free grace has reigned,
In every blessing he ordained.
Yes, dearest Lord, ’tis my desire
Thy wise appointments to admire;
And trace the footsteps of my God
Through every path in Zion’s road.
This was written by Richard Burnham in the 18th century. Burnham, according to hymntime.com, was “for many years pastor of a Baptist church in London, first in Little Chapel Street, then in Grafton Street, Soho. He is said to have been an excellent preacher. He wrote some 452 hymns in his lifetime.”
We have one date in common. He died on October 30 (1810) and I was born on the same day (many years later).
