By Christ redeemed, in Christ restored. G. Rawson. [Holy Communion.] Written in 1857 for, and first published in, the Baptist Psalms and Hymns, 1858, No. 741, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines,and appointed for "The Lord's Supper.” It is a hymn of more than usual excellence, and has attained to a greater position in modern hymnals than any other of the author's numerous compositions. The text was revised by the author for his Hymns, 1876, No. xxxv. Original text, Baptist Psalms and Hymns, 1858. In Thring's Collection, 1882, stanza iv., lines 3, is changed from "By one blest chain of loving rite," to "The shame I the glory! by this Rite." The greatest alterations, however, are found in the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Church Hymns, 1871, No. 205, where in addition to minor alterations, including the opening line to:—
"By Christ redeemed, to God restored," we have the following lines:—
" His body broken in our stead,
Is here, in this memorial bread;
And so our feeble love is fed,
Until He come!
“His fearful drops of agony,
His life-blood shed for us we see:
The wine shall tell the mystery,
Until He come! "
transmuted into the weak stanza:
"His Body slain upon the tree,
His Life-blood, shed for us, we see;
Thus faith shall read the mystery,
Until He come."
It is but just to add, however, that "They" were compressed into one verse with considerable reluctance by the editors, with Mr. Rawson's kind permission, in deference to the judgment of others." (Notes on Church Hymns, folio edition, p. xlix.) The American use of this hymn in its original, or a slightly altered form, is very extensive.
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Born: June 5, 1807, Leeds, England.
Died: March 25, 1889, Clifton, England.
Buried: Arno’s Vale Cemetery, Bristol, England.
Pseudonym: A Leeds Layman.
Rawson, George, was born June 5, 1807, at Leeds, in which town he practised for many years as a solicitor. In 1853 he assisted the Congregational ministers of Leeds in the compilation of Psalms, Hymns, and Passages of Scripture for Christian Worship, a volume commonly known as the Leeds Hymn-book. Mr. Rawson was a member of the Congregational body. In 1858 he also assisted Rev. Dr. Green and other Baptist ministers in the preparation of Psalms and Hymns for the use of the Baptist Denomination. A number of Mr. Rawson's own compositions first appeared in this and in the Leeds Hymn-boo… Go to person page >
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