Longing For Still Closer Communion

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Thou Shepherd of Israel, and mine

Author: Charles Wesley
Published in 175 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI, Recording

Piano/Organ
	EARLY AMERICAN FOLK HYMNS FOR ORGAN (A C…

Representative Text

1 THOU Shepherd of Israel, and mine,
The joy and desire of my heart,
For closer communion pine,
I long to reside where Thou art.

2 The pasture I languish to find,
Where all who their Shepherd obey,
Are fed on His bosom reclined,
And screened from the heat of the day.

3 Ah, show me that happiest place,
That place of Thy people’s abode,
Where saints in an ecstasy gaze,
And hang on a crucified God.

4 Thy love for a sinner declare,
Thy passion and death on the tree,
My spirit to Calvary bear,
To suffer and triumph with Thee.

5 ’Tis there, with the lambs of Thy flock,
There only I covet to rest;
To lie at the foot of the Rock,
Or rise to be hid in Thy breast.

6 ’Tis there I would always abide,
And never a moment depart,
Concealed in the cleft of Thy side.
Eternally hid in Thy heart.

7 How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful, unchangeable Friend:
Whose love is as great as His power,
And knows neither measure nor end.

8 ’Tis Jesus, the First and the Last,
Whose Spirit shall guide us safe home;
We’ll praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that’s to come.

Source: Redemption Hymnal #75

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Author: Charles Wesley

Charles Wesley, M.A. was the great hymn-writer of the Wesley family, perhaps, taking quantity and quality into consideration, the great hymn-writer of all ages. Charles Wesley was the youngest son and 18th child of Samuel and Susanna Wesley, and was born at Epworth Rectory, Dec. 18, 1707. In 1716 he went to Westminster School, being provided with a home and board by his elder brother Samuel, then usher at the school, until 1721, when he was elected King's Scholar, and as such received his board and education free. In 1726 Charles Wesley was elected to a Westminster studentship at Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his degree in 1729, and became a college tutor. In the early part of the same year his religious impressions were much deepene… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Thou Shepherd of Israel, and mine
Title:	Longing For Still Closer Communion
Author:	Charles Wesley
Meter:	8.8.8.8 D
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Tune

CONTRAST (German)

The tune most commonly known as CONTRAST is a German folk tune. In American shape-note tradition the tune is known as GREEN FIELDS or GREENFIELDS. J. S. Bach quoted it in his "Peasant Cantata," but he did not compose it. It has also been misattributed to Maria DeFleury and to Lewis Edson. Edson wrot…

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ENON'S ISLE

ARABIA (White)

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