THE HUSBANDMAN

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.  As to every branch in me not bearing fruit, he takes it away; and as to every one bearing fruit, he purges it that it may bring forth more fruit.",
John 15 1,2.

"More fruit" - 'tis for Himself,
  His pleasure to fulfil -
He takes the branch in hand
  With rare and perfect skill.

He seeks the goodly fruit,
  The Husbandman divine;
He prunes and trains the branch,
 That Christ in us may shine.

The pruning may give pain,
  The training make us smart;
From things to which we cling
  'Tis bitter thus to part.

Would we be left alone,
  Untended by His care,
To grow untamed and wild,
  Nothing of Christ to bear?

Not so; we look to Him,
  To train us as He please;
To clear away whate'er
  Unsuited there He sees;

That thus the fruit may be
  Both plentiful and choice;
For Him , the Husbandman,
  To make His heart rejoice.

(This is another by T Willey, published in "The Songs of the Lord", 1931.)

CLIMBING AND RESTING

CLIMBING

Heights of richest joy and blessing,
(Christ in glory, theme sublime!)
Rise before us, still untrodden,
Let us onward, upward, climb!

Climbing-time is not yet over,
Not yet come the resting-time;
Let no earthly ties detain us,
Let us onward, upward, climb!

RESTING

Who can tell the joy of resting
In that home of light and love?
Soon forgot the weary climbing,
When the home is reached above.

Resting-time! yes, looked and longed for,
never may the hope grow dim!
"Where i am" - most precious promise,
Satisfied at last with Him.

RESTING AND CLIMBING

Even now, while upward climbing
What sweet rest along the way!
Pastures green, and springs refreshing;
Climbing, resting, every day.

Another by T Willey from "The Songs of the Lord.

ABOVE THE STORM

"Be not afraid!" His voice falls clear and still
Upon our ear;
Though boisterous winds and seas may seek to fill
Our hearts with fear.
But why should winds and rolling waves appal?
He walks, in heavenly light, above them all.

Now, Lord, attract our hearts to walk with Thee,
And bid us come!
Above the waves, in victory, Lord, to be
With Thee at home;
To find in Thee a sure and safe retreat,
The world and Satan's power beneath our feet.

With firm and steady step to take our stand
Close by Thy side;
To feel the touch of Thine own loving hand,
Whate'er betide.
And soon, the day will break and storms will cease,
A morn without a cloud, unbroken peace.


From"The Songs of the Lord", by T Willey.

THE GREATNESS OF THY LOVE

The greatness of Thy love
Lord Jesus, who can tell?
It brought Thee from above
That we with Thee might dwell.
And in Thy blessed image shine
Through endless days, in light divine.

What joy 'twill be to Thee
When Thou hast gathered home
Those whom Thy love set free!
Not left, as now, to roam
Mid scenes of trial, sin and care
But all, with Thee, O Lord, to share!

To see Thy glory there
Our greatest joy will be;
Our constant bliss to share
The home of love with Thee -
The father's house - fit resting-place,
For sinners saved by wondrous grace.


Hymn by T Willey, from "The Songs of the Lord"

LOVE'S TRIUMPH

O Lord, with hearts adoring,
We travel back to see
Where love divine, unmeasured,
Expressed itself in Thee.

That  dark and lonely valley,
O'er which death's shadow fell;
The cross, where, ranged against Thee,
Stood all the powers of hell.

Oh, what a shroud of darkness
O'er all the scene was thrown;
Whilst Thou, the Light effulgent,
Dwelt in the grave, alone!

But bright indeed the dawning
Of resurrection's day -
Death's power for ever broken,
Sin's thraldom done away.

Now linked with Thee for ever,
In risen life we stand;
And, loved by Thee, we enter
E'en now the heavenly land.

Beneath Thy waving banner,
We sit, secure and free;
And view, with joy and wonder,
Love's triumph, Lord, in Thee!

Hymn by Thomas Willey

THE VICTOR

"We see Jesus ... crowned with glory and honour", Hebrews 2: 9

O Lord with joy we hail Thee now,
"The Firstborn from the dead";
The Victor's crown is rightly place
Upon Thy head.

The key of hades and of death
Are in Thy hand, O Lord!
Thou are the mighty Conqueror,
Be Thou adored!

The Father's glory claimed Thee, Lord,
When all Thy work was done;
And death no longer could detain
His Holy One.

And now the Father finds His rest
In Thee, the glorified;
While to our heart Thou art more dear
Than all beside.

Thou, Lord, our satisfaction art,
The well-spring of our joy;
Thy praises shall, through endless days,
Our lips employ.

(This is another by T Willey, published in "The Songs of the Lord", 1931.)

JESUS, ENTHRONED IN HEAVENLY GLORY

Jesus, enthroned in heavenly glory,
Once here on earth, the humbled One;
Our hearts have learned the beauteous story
Of all that Thou in love has done:
No love, so great, O Lord as Thine!
Its glories shall for ever shine.

This love shall be our theme unending,
When in yon courts of light we dwell;
From every lip Thy praise ascending,
Each with his tale of grace to tell.
E'en now, O Lord, 'tis joy to raise
Our feeble voices in Thy praise.

From "The Songs of the Lord", by T Willey

UNBOUNDED LOVE

"O Lord, Thy love's unbounded,
So vast, so full, so free!"
But how imperfect, faltering,
How small, my love to Thee!
Compare my love to Thine, Lord,
How feeble does it seem!
Thy love is like an ocean,
But mine a tiny stream.

How little do I fathom
That wondrous depth of grace,
Which brought Thee down from heaven,
On earth to take a place -
To be the lowly Jesus,
(Oh blessed beauteous Name!
To bow Thy head so meekly,
To bear that cross of shame!

How feeble is the answer
To all Thy present love! 
Thy patient, loving service
As Advocate above!
Midst all my folly, weakness,
Forgetfulness of Thee,
Thy love still, like a banner,
Protects, o'ershadows me.

Release my heart then, Jesus,
Fron all that's here below,
That thus, each hindrance banished,
My love towards Thee may glow.
And then, with deeper meaning,
My song shall rise to Thee -
"O Lord, Thy love's unbounded,
So vast, so full, so free!"

By T Willey
From The Songs of the Lord