A hymn by George Vicesimus Wigram, annotated with a scripture text for each line. A condensed biography of this remarkable man is included.

	GEORGE VICESIMUS WIGRAM was the twentieth child of Sir Robert Wigram - hence his middle name - he was born in 1805. Two of his brothers distinguished themselves in their respective careers; one, James, became Vice-Chancellor in the Old Court of Chancery, and the other, Joseph Cotton, Bishop of Rochester. George V. Wigram was converted whilst a subaltern officer in the army, and in 1826 entered at Queen´s College, Oxford, with the view of taking orders. As an undergraduate he came into contact with Mr. Jarratt of the same college, and with Messrs. James L. Harris and Benjamin Wills Newton, both of Exeter College, who were all destined to take part in the ecclesiastical movement with which Wigram´s name is also prominently connected. This connection was strengthened from about the year 1830, when these friends, all Devonians, were associated in the formation of a company of Christians at Plymouth, who separated from the organised churches, and were gathered to the Name alone of Jesus, in view of bearing a testimony to the unity of the church, and to its direction by the Holy Spirit alone, whilst awaiting the second coming of the Lord. Wigram was active in the initiation of a like testimony in London, where by the year 1838 a considerable number of gatherings were formed on the model of that at Plymouth, and he began to feel that some kind of organisation was needed whereby these neighbouring companies should act in concert; hence his letter to J. N. Darby, which will be found on page 60 of W. B. Neatby´s "History". The formation of a London Saturday-evening administrative ´central meeting´ dates from that year. Several years before this, Wigram´s interest had been engaged in the preparation of Concordances which should aid especially Bible students with no, or but little, knowledge of the original languages. The plan of these was determined on after conference with Mr. De Burgh, who found the workers, whilst there can be no doubt Wigram himself provided the money, although he humbly speaks of this only as "passing through my hands." The first to appear, in 1839, was the Englishman´s Greek and English Concordance to the New Testament, and it was followed in 1843 by the Englishman´s Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance to the Old Testament. These volumes have largely aided intelligent, if not scholarly, acquaintance with the background of the Bible in both its parts, so that their issue by Wigram was a signal service of his rendered to the Church of God which after the lapse of years still makes itself felt. Compilers of later works on similar lines have more or less been indebted to his scheme - cf., in particular, Scrivener´s Reference Paragraph Bible. In the years 1845-1850 Wigram was prominently concerned in the upheaval, with its melancholy result, which, originating at Plymouth. A magazine known as the ´Christian Witness´ had for several years served as chief organ of the movement in its beginning. This had now lapsed, and a new periodical, entitled, The ´Present Testimony´, took its place under the editorship of Wigram. Amongst the papers it contained are his own on the Psalms, in which the Divine Names are distinguished in the text. In 1856 he produced a new hymn book, "Hymns for the Poor of the Flock," which for some twenty-five years remained the staple of praise in the meetings with which he was associated. Ten years after the first appearance of the hymn book edited by him he stood by J. N. Darby once again at a critical juncture, when the question of the doctrine maintained by the latter on the sufferings of Christ some further dissension occurred, though the teaching was vindicated. During the rest of his life he paid visits to the West Indies, New Zealand, etc., where his ministry seems to have been much appreciated. He passed away in 1879. "He was one accounted familiar with the sanctuary, who cared little to counsel others in their difficulties, referring them to the same resource. It is only upon the excellencies of such a man that one cares to dwell. Let all else, for those immediately concerned, sink into oblivion." E.E.W. (Abbreviated from ´Chief men among the brethren´ published by Pickering and Inglis.)
Hymn 22, included in the following editions of LFHB, 1856, 1881, 1903, 1932, 1951, 1962, 1973, 2001.	Wigram, George Vicesimus, 1805-1879, d. London. Editor of 1856 LFHB, 11.10.11.10. Dactylic  [11.11.11.11.]
1
How bright, there above, is the mercy of God!	Mic 7:18  Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
And void of all guilt, and clear of all sin,	Heb 9.14  how much rather shall the blood of the Christ, who by the eternal Spirit offered himself spotless to God, purify your conscience from dead works to worship the living God?
Are my conscience and heart, through my Saviour's blood:	Heb 10:22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
Not a cloud above-not a spot within.	Jude 1.24  But to him that is able to keep you without stumbling, and to set you with exultation blameless before his glory,
2
Christ died! then I'm clean: not a spot within.	1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
God's mercy and love! not a cloud above.	Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
'Tis the Spirit through faith, thus triumphs o'er sin:	Joh 3:8 The wind blows where it will, and thou hearest its voice, but knowest not whence it comes and where it goes: thus is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Not a cloud above-not a spot within.	Ro 8:33,34  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? [It is] God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

ENT, a verse by verse anthology of bible commentary, mainly from brethren sources. The whole work is available free of charge as part of the OnLine Bible. Download freely from OnLine Bible North America. ENT is listed under commentary downloads.

"The whole earth was of one language". Genesis 11.1  We now have important

historical evidence as to exactly what was meant by the sentence,

“The entire land had one language and a common speech.” This may not

refer to primal humanity before the division of languages. In fact in

the previous chapter the Torah has already stated, “From these the

maritime peoples spread out into their lands in their clans within

their nations, each with its own language” Gen 10:5. The reference 

seems to be to the imperial practice of the neoAssyrians, of imposing their

own language on the peoples they conquered. One inscription of the

time records that Ashurbanipal II “made the totality of all peoples

speak one speech.” A cylinder inscription of Sargon II says,

“Populations of the four quarters of the world with strange tongues

and incompatible speech… whom I had taken as booty at the command

of Ashur my lord by the might of my sceptre, I caused to accept a

single voice.” The neo-Assyrians asserted their supremacy by

insisting that their language was the only one to be used by the

nations and populations they had defeated. On this reading, Babel is

a critique of imperialism.

from Jonathan Sacks, Covenant and Conversation

I hope that someone will suggest much better scriptures to go with each hymn line. The hymn lines can be split to accommodate further scripture texts

1973 LFHB	Author details
Hymn 21, included in these editions, 1903, 1932, 1951, 1973, 2001.	Darby, J. N. 18.11.1800-29.4.1882, b. Westminster. Trinity College, Dublin, 1825 C of Ireland deacon, then priest c1825- c1831, editor of 1881 LFHB, d. Sundridge House, Bournemouth, Dorset, 6.4.6.4.
1	Scriptures for each hymn line:
O Lord, 'tis sweet the thought	Ps 118:28 Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.
That Thou art mine;	Joh 20:28 Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord and my God.
But brighter still the joy	Ps 116:16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.
That I am Thine!	John 17.6 thine they were and thou gavest them unto me
2
Thine own, O Lord, the fruit,	Isa 53:11 He shall see of the fruit of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied:
The cherished fruit	James 5.7 the precious fruit of the earth
Of Thine all-perfect love!	Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
No passing root	Heb 12:15 lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled;
3
Of evil e'er will dim	Re 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Thy cloudless rays;	2Sam 23.4 he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds
But a full heart pour forth	Ps 57:7 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.
Thine endless praise!	Ps 79:13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
4
O joy supreme and full,	Ps 16.11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Where sunless day	Rev 22.5 there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light:
Sheds forth, with light divine,	Isa 60.19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day... but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light,
Its cloudless ray!	Isa 30:26 And the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be sevenfold, as the light of seven days, in the day that Jehovah bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the wound of their stroke.

A snippet from ENT

 A certain Arab died and left seventeen camels, which he bequeathed to his three sons in the following proportions: to the eldest a half; to the second a third; to the youngest a ninth. The three sons were disputing violently about the proper division of the camels when a stranger rode up to them from the desert and asked them the cause of their anger. When they had explained it to him he said: ‘But this is very simple. I shall give you my camel; so now you have eighteen instead of seventeen, and the sum is easily done. The eldest will take nine, the second six and the youngest two.’ When the three sons had each taken the camels allotted to him, they found that one was left over. ‘And therefore,’ said the stranger, ‘I can now take my own camel back again, and yet leave you with no further cause for dispute.’

The bequest made sense only if the sons assumed the presence of a camel which didn’t even need to exist.

I find that the world makes sense only if we assume the existence of a loving God.

Philip Toynbee, Part of a Journey, Collins, London 1981, p184f

"For ever with Thee, Lord". A hymn by J N Darby, originally published as a poem.

This hymn is part of ‘The soul’s desire’  1881, published in ‘Spiritual Songs’, Kingston Bible Trust, reprinted 1985, page 71.	Suggested scripture references are inserted opposite each line of the hymn, suggestions more apposite texts would be greatly welcomed. Red Beret
Hymn number 19, included in 1932, 1951, 1962, 1973 & 2001 editions of the LFHB Metre  6.5.11.6.5.11.	Darby, J. N. 18.11.1800-29.4.1882, b. Westminster. Trinity College, Dublin, 1825 C of Ireland deacon, then priest c1825-c1831, editor of 1881 LFHB, d. Sundridge House, Bournemouth, Dorset.
1
For ever with Thee, Lord,	1 Thess 4.17  so shall we ever be with the Lord.
And like Thee to be,	1John 3.2  we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is
For ever with Thee, at Thy coming again;	Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
We'll live in Thy grace, Lord,	Rom 14.8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.
We'll gaze on Thy face,	Rev 22.3,4  his servants shall serve him:  And they shall see his face
When finished our race, at Thy coming again.	2Tim 4.7  I have finished the race
2
The traits of that face, Lord,	Isa 53:2  For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
Once marred through Thy grace,	Isa 52.14  his visage was so marred more than any man
With joy we shall trace at Thy coming again;	John 16.22  I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice
With Thee evermore, Lord,	John 17.24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am
Our hearts will adore,	Ps 111:1  Hallelujah! I will celebrate Jehovah with [my] whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the assembly.
Our sorrow be o'er at Thy coming again.	John 16.22  ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you
3
We'll sit on Thy throne, Lord,	Rev 3.21  To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne
Confessed as Thine own,	Mt 10.32  Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven
Of all to be known at Thy coming again.	2Thess 1.10  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe
But glory on high, Lord,	Col 1.27  Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Is not like being nigh,	Re 3:12 He that overcomes, him will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more at all out;
When all is gone by, at Thy coming again.	2Ti 4:6  For I am already being poured out, and the time of my release is come.

John Nelson Darby, hymn writer, amongst many other accomplishments.

Hymn number 14, (a Little Flock 'bedrock' hymn, having been included in every edition from 1840-2011). 

This hymn is a 'parody' of Thomas Kelly's,  'Hark ten thousand harps and viols'; using the same metre and the same opening words.

014, 1840, 1856, 1881, 1903, 1932, 1951, 1962, 1973, 2001	Darby, J. N. 18.11.1800-29.4.1882, b. Westminster. Trinity College, Dublin, 1825 C of Ireland deacon, then priest c1825- c1831, editor of 1881 LFHB, d. Sundridge House, Bournemouth, Dorset, 8.7.8.7.
1
Hark! ten thousand voices crying	Rev 5.11 And I saw, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and their number was ten thousands of ten thousands and thousands of thousands
Lamb of God with one accord;	Rev 5.12 Worthy is the Lamb that has been slain
Thousand, thousand saints replying	Hosea 2.21 it shall come to pass in that day, I will hear, saith Jehovah, I will hear the heavens, and they shall hear the earth;
Wake at once the echoing chord.	Hosea 2.22 And the earth shall hear the corn, and the wine, and the oil; and they shall hear Jezreel.
2
Praise the Lamb!-the chorus waking,	Rev 5.13 and to the Lamb, blessing, and honour, and glory, and might, to the ages of ages
All in heav'n together throng;	Rev 5.13 And every creature which is in heaven... heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power,
Loud and far, each tongue partaking,	Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Rolls around the endless song.	Ps 79:13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.
3
Grateful incense this, ascending	Ps. 141.2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
Ever to the Father's throne;	Ex 30:8 And when Aaron lighteth the lamps between the two evenings, he shall burn the incense-a continual incense before Jehovah throughout your generations.
Every knee to Jesus bending,	Php 2.10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow
All the mind in heav'n is one.	Rev 5.13 And every creature which is in heaven... heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power,
4
All the Father's counsels claiming	John 5.22,23 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father
Equal honours to the Son;	Ac 3:13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus;
All the Son's effulgence beaming,	2Cor 4.6 to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
Makes the Father's glory known.	Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we have contemplated his glory, a glory as of an only-begotten with a father), full of grace and truth;
5
By the Spirit all pervading,	Re 5:6 And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God [which are] sent into all the earth:
Hosts unnumbered round the Lamb,	Rev 5.11 their number was ten thousands of ten thousands and thousands of thousands
Crowned	1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
with light and joy unfading,	Mt 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Hail Him as the great	Ex 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
"I AM."	Isa 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
6
Joyful now the wide creation	Isa 35.1 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose
Rests in undisturbed repose,	Isaiah 14.7 The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing
Blest in Jesu's full salvation,	Rev 22.3 there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it;
Sorrow now nor thraldom knows.	Revelation 21.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying
7
Hark! still louder swells the singing,	Isa 42:10 Sing unto Jehovah a new song, his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles and their inhabitants.
As the notes are heard again;	Isa 52:8,9 The voice of thy watchmen, they lift up the voice, they sing aloud together; for they shall see eye to eye, when Jehovah shall bring again Zion. Break forth, sing aloud together, waste places of Jerusalem; for Jehovah comforteth his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.
Through creation's vault is ringing	Isa 49:13 Shout, ye heavens; and be joyful, thou earth; and break forth into singing, ye mountains: for Jehovah hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted ones.
Joy's response. Amen! Amen!	Ps 72.19 blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen