His Are the Thousand Sparkling Rills

His are the thousand sparkling rills

Author: Cecil Frances Alexander (1875)
Published in 33 hymnals

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Representative Text

1 His are the thousand sparkling rills
that from a thousand fountains burst,
and fill with music all the hills;
and yet he saith, 'I thirst.'

2 All fiery pangs on battle-fields,
on fever beds where sick men toss,
are in that human cry he yields
to anguish on the cross.

3 But more than pains that racked him then
was the deep longing thirst divine
that thirsted for the souls of men;
dear Lord! And one was mine.

4 O Love most patient, give me grace;
make all my soul athirst for thee;
that parched dry lip, that fading face,
that thirst, were all for me.

Source: CPWI Hymnal #154

Author: Cecil Frances Alexander

As a small girl, Cecil Frances Humphries (b. Redcross, County Wicklow, Ireland, 1818; Londonderry, Ireland, 1895) wrote poetry in her school's journal. In 1850 she married Rev. William Alexander, who later became the Anglican primate (chief bishop) of Ireland. She showed her concern for disadvantaged people by traveling many miles each day to visit the sick and the poor, providing food, warm clothes, and medical supplies. She and her sister also founded a school for the deaf. Alexander was strongly influenced by the Oxford Movement and by John Keble's Christian Year. Her first book of poetry, Verses for Seasons, was a "Christian Year" for children. She wrote hymns based on the Apostles' Creed, baptism, the Lord's Supper, the Ten Commandment… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: His are the thousand sparkling rills
Title: His Are the Thousand Sparkling Rills
Author: Cecil Frances Alexander (1875)
Meter: 8.8.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #2443
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CPWI Hymnal #154

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The Cyber Hymnal #2443

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