Search Results

Switch back to the old search page.Advanced Search

One Thing Needful

Author: Johann Heinrich Schröder; A. Ramsey Appears in 3 hymnals First Line: One thing needful, Lord, I pray thee

Instances

Published text-tune combinations (hymns) from specific hymnals

One thing needful! Lord, I pray Thee

Author: A. Ramsey; J. H. Schroeder Hymnal: Wartburg Hymnal #300 (1918) Lyrics: 1 One thing needful! Lord, I pray Thee, Teach me this alone to know: All but this, though fair as may be, Is a heavy yoke of woe. Beneath it the heart with remorse is tormented; Is seeking, but never is truly contented; This one thing I long for, well worth all alone, That I may be gladdened by all things in one. 2 O my soul, if thou wouldst find it, Ask no creature to advise; Neither seek of earth, nor mind it; Mount o'er nature to the skies, Where God is with man in One Person united; Where all by His perfected fullness is lighted. There, then, thy most needful, best portion extol,-- My welfare eternal, my Savior, my all. 3 E'en as Mary, all else quitting, On this only bliss intent, At the feet of Jesus sitting, In a pure devotion pent: Her spirit within her in ecstasy glowing, Desiring the one thing her Lord was bestowing, And lost in her Savior, to all things beside, Receiving the one thing with all was supplied;-- 4 So doth strong desire possess me, Savior hear, for Thee alone May I faithfully confess Thee; Make me, Lord, Thy very own. The many are e'en to the multitude turning, But Thee will I seek, Lord, with love for Thee yearning; Thy word is both spirit and life unto me; What is there of good that is not found in Thee! 5 Wisdom, Lord, in Thee abiding, Though in fullness unrevealed, May my will obey Thy guiding And to Thee in all things yield. Let meekness and holy simplicity rule me; In heavenly wisdom, O Lord, let them school me: If truly I only know Thee as my Lord, Ah, then I have wisdom's most perfect reward. 6 Naught can I bring, God, that please But Thyself, Thou Boon most blest; In Thy crimson blood, O Jesus, My prosperity must rest. That most perfect righteousness, Lord, is assured me, Which Thou by Thy death on the cross hast secured me; The robes of salvation I fondly desire, My faith's everlasting and glorious attire. 7 Grant my soul in slumber lying, In Thy likeness, Lord, to wake; Made of God my sanctifying, Thee my only choice I make: For all things that serve godly life and behavior Are given me only in Thee, Holy Savior. Within me all lusts of the moment dethrone The power of Thy blest resurrection make known. 8 Then, my Savior, naught can move me; Thou my All in All shalt be: Search my heart's intent and prove me, Purging all hypocrisy. See whether the slippery places impede me, And then in the way everlasting still lead me: The world I count worthless and all it may bring, That I may find Thee, Lord, the one needful thing. Topics: Prayer

One Thing Needful

Hymnal: Songs of Prayer and Praise #17 (1919) First Line: One thing needful! Lord, I pray Thee Languages: English

One thing needful, Lord, I pray thee

Author: A. Ramsey Hymnal: The Apostolic Christian Hymnal #d147 (1921)

People

Authors, composers, editors, etc.

Johann Heinrich Schröder

1667 - 1699 Author of "One Thing Needful" Schröder, Johann Heinrich, was born Oct. 4,1667, at Springe (Hallerspringe) near Hannover. He studied at the University of Leipzig, where he experienced the awakening effects of A. H. Francke's lectures. In 1696 he was appointed pastor at Meseberg, near Neuhaldensleben; and in the registers there records of himself (writing in the third person), " 1696, on the 17th Sunday after Trinity, viz. on Oct. 4, on which day he was born, with the beginning of his 30th year, he entered on the pastorate of this parish." He died at Meseberg, June 30, 1699 (Koch, iv., 381; Blatter für Hymnologie, 1883, p. 192, &c). Schröder is best known by the four hymns which he contributed to the Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Halle, 1697; and which are repeated in the Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Darmstadt, 1698; and in Freylinghausen's Gesang-Buch, 1704. They are very good examples of the early hymns of the Pietists, being genuine and earnest outpourings of Love to Christ, not unmixed with Chiliastic hopes for the victory of Zion and the overthrow of Babylon. In the same books are two hymns by his wife (Tranquilla Sophia née Wolf), who died at Meseberg, April 29, 1697. Two of Schröder's hymns have passed into English, viz.:— i. Eins ist noth, aoh Herr, dies eine. Love to Christ. This is included in the Geistreiches Gesang-Buch, Halle, 1097, p. 505, in 10 stanzas of 8 lines, entitled, "One thing is needful. Luke x. 42. Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. 1 Cor. i. 30." Its popularity has been due, not only to its own beauty and power, but also to the taking character of the melody to which it is set. This is by J. Neander, in his Bundes Lieder, Bremen, 1680, as the melody of Grosser Prophete; and was altered in Freylinghausen to suit Schroder's hymn. The full form from Freylinghausen is in Mercer's The Church Psalter & Hymn Book, and there called Landsberg. The second part is given in the Bristol Tune Book as Ems. A greatly altered form, as Ratisbon, has passed through W. H. Havergal's Old Church Psalmody into the Irish Church Hymnal, the Scottish Presbyterian Hymnal and others. The translation in common use from Schröder is:— One thing's needful, then, Lord Jesus. This is a good and full tr., by Miss Cox, in her Sacred Hymns from the German, 1841, p. 137. Other translations are:— (1) "One thing is needful! Let me deem." By Miss Winkworth, 1855, p. 183. (2) "One thing's needful:— this rich treasure." By Dr. H. Mills, 1856, p. 92. ii. Jesu, hilf siegen, du Furste des Lebens. Christian Warfare…It is said to have been written, in 1696, as a companion to his wife's hymn, "Trautster Jesu, Ehrenkonig". It was accused of Chiliasm, by the Theological Faculty of Wittenberg, but still holds an honoured place in German collections. The translations are:—(1) "Jesus, help conquer ! Thou Prince everliving." By Dr. H. Mills, 1856, p. 126. (2) "Jesus, help conquer. Thou Prince of my being." By Miss Manington, 1863, p. 2. The hymn beginning, "Jesus, help conquer! my spirit is sinking," by Miss Warner, in 6 stanzas, in her Hymns of the Church Militant, N. Y., 1858, p. 161, borrows little more than the first line from the German. It is repeated in Boardman's Selection, Philadelphia, 1861, No. 463. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)