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Songs of
Holiness Series: Part 2
by
Major Mel Jones
Eleven doctrines and eleven holiness hymns (part 2)
Major Mel
Jones is a Divisional Commander in the
United Kingdom Territory and a former Principal of the
William Booth College.
The Major is writing a book in which he explores the prominent
place given to holiness within the early Salvation Army.
Eleven doctrines
and eleven holiness hymns
In my first
article I referred to the song “My all is on the altar”
by Mary James. This song has the rare distinction of being
included in the holiness section of every edition of the
official Salvation Army Song Book. This record of ‘staying
power’ is impressive and it is interesting to speculate as to
why this particular song has stayed the course. Is it because
of its theology? Is it because it is popular? Is it kept for
nostalgic-historic reasons? Has it just been fortunate enough
to escape being thrown out? I leave you to further this
discussion if you want to. I want to take the discussion in a
slightly different direction by making you aware that this
song is in fact one of eleven songs that have achieved this
record of being ever-present. Here are the first verses of
each of these songs together with their authors. You might
like to consider if there is anything that they have in common
with each other; and if so then what might that common theme
say about The Salvation Army and its understanding of
holiness.
He wills that I should holy be;
That holiness I long to feel,
That full divine conformity
To all my Saviour's righteous will.
Charles Wesley (SB 419)
I
hear thy welcome voice
That calls me, Lord, to thee,
For cleansing in thy precious blood
That flowed on Calvary.
Lewis Hartsough (SB 423)
Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole,
I
want thee for ever to live in my soul;
Break down every idol, cast out every foe,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
James Nicholson (SB 436)
O
come and dwell in me,
Spirit of power within!
And bring the glorious liberty
From sorrow, fear and sin.
Charles Wesley (SB 441)
With my faint, weary soul to be made fully whole,
And thy perfect salvation to see,
With my heart all aglow to be washed white as snow,
I
am coming, dear Saviour, to thee.
William Burrell (SB 469)
Come, Saviour Jesus, from above,
Assist me with thy heavenly grace;
Empty my heart of earthly love,
And for thyself prepare the place.
Antionette Bourginon (SB 480)
Translated John Wesley
Lord, I make a full surrender,
All I have I yield to thee;
For thy love, so great and tender,
Asks the gift of me.
Lord, I bring my whole affection,
Claim it, take it for thine own,
Safely kept by thy protection,
Fixed on thee alone.
Lowell
Mason (SB 504)
My body, soul and spirit,
Jesus, I give to thee,
A
consecrated offering,
Thine evermore to be.
Mary James (SB 511)
Precious Jesus, O to love thee!
O
to know that thou art mine!
Jesus, all my heart I give thee
If thou wilt but make it thine.
Francis Bottome (SB 520)
I
stand all bewildered with wonder
And gaze on the ocean of love,
And over its waves to my spirit
Comes peace like a heavenly dove.
Wilbur Fisk Crafts (SB 542)
O
the bitter shame and sorrow
That a time could ever be
When I let the Saviour's pity
Plead in vain, and proudly answered:
All of self and none of thee!
Theodore Monod (SB 548)
These eleven ever-present holiness songs are part of the
holiness history of The Salvation Army. In my next article I
will reveal the common theme that they share. I hope you enjoy
looking for this theme in the meantime.
He wills that I should holy be;
That holiness I
long to feel
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