Brethren Archive

NUMBER: 57

On The Lamb Our Souls Are Resting

by Julius Anton von Poseck


Tune: Rhineland 8.7.8.7.

Tune: Rhineland 8.7.8.7.


1 ON the Lamb our souls are resting,
What His love no tongue can say;
All our sins, so great, so many,
In His blood are washed away.

2 Sweetest rest and peace have filled us,
Sweeter praise than tongue can tell;
God is satisfied with Jesus,
We are satisfied as well.

3 Conscience now no more condemns us,
For His own most precious blood
Once for all has washed and cleansed us ---
Cleansed us in the eyes of God.

4 Filled with this sweet peace for ever,
On we go, through strife and care,
Till we find that peace around us
In the Lamb's high glory there.





Comments:
Mackie said ...
I'm so happy the Lord led me to this website. Thank Thee, oh Lord!

Thank you, Tom!
Tuesday, Jul 25, 2017 : 22:04
Tom said ...
Thanks for your comments on the hymns .. I need to get around to adding the rest of them! I told myself if I did 5 a day it would just take me a few months to add the lot, but not managed that so-far :-)
Tuesday, Aug 1, 2017 : 20:32
Mackie said ...
That would be great! Really looking forward to it!
May God continue to richly bless you!
Thursday, Aug 3, 2017 : 16:02
Gregory Morris said ...
In the 1973 LFHB there is an additional verse

On the living Lord believing,
We have righteousness and peace.
By the Holy Spirit given
We have joys that never cease.

Is that verse by the author? The hymn as it stands above is rather hanging in the air at the end
Monday, Dec 12, 2022 : 06:41
Steve H said ...
Hi Gregory,

The fifth verse is also in the 1951 and 1962 editions - hymn 410.

Steve H

Monday, Dec 12, 2022 : 07:20
Michael Schneider said ...

The German original has two more verses, but they bear no resemblance to the fifth English verse.

A literal prose translation of the German original would be something like this:

1. My soul rests on the Lamb, worshipping with admiration. His blood has taken away all, all my sins.

2. Blessed resting place! Sweet peace fills my soul now. Where God rests with delight, I too am at rest.

3. My conscience has found rest here, for His blood – O rich fountain! – has washed me clean and bright from all my sins.

4. And with sweet rest in my heart I go here through struggle and sorrow. Above in the glory of the Lamb I will find eternal rest.

5. There my eye will see Him, whose love has refreshed me here, whose faithfulness has guided me, whose grace has made me richly happy.

6. There His dearly purchased flock will sing of the Lamb's love, offering Him eternal praise in Zion's blessed rest.

Monday, Dec 12, 2022 : 17:17
Gregory Morris said ...
Thank you so much for that. I am sure a competent poet could complete the hymn!
Monday, Dec 12, 2022 : 17:51
Nick Fleet said ...

The English version appeared first in Darby's 1881 revision, being a translation (by Mrs Frances Bevan) of the German of J A von Poseck from his Lieder für die Kinder Gottes (1856). The German hymn (#91) originally had 11 verses but by the 1863 edition of Geistliche Lieder had been pruned to 5 but with another verse (v 4) by Carl Brockhaus (?) added. This verse is the source of the English verse 4.  The hymn is #78 in the Elberfeld editions.  The 5th verse added in 1951 doesn't seem to be based on any of the 6 verses in the current German hymn-book, though.

Monday, Dec 12, 2022 : 17:53
Gregory Morris said ...
Perhaps she already has. The Evangelist's Hymnal 4th ed. 1933 has it as, From German transl. F Bevan
Monday, Dec 12, 2022 : 17:55
Gregory Morris said ...
Steve H, thank you, I had noted that and it did not wholly inspire me with confidence - there is nothing wrong with the verse but the German additional verses seem to bring it -and us home. It's almost as if the 4th verse should have a colon at the end of it. I note the change from eyes of God to sight of God a change which I think good but eyes has more directness. That change must have happened in the 1962 LFHB edition.
Monday, Dec 12, 2022 : 18:37
Steve H said ...
Hi Gregory,

It I also interesting to see that the literal translation from the German is very personal (i.e. I, me, my), whereas the hymn as we have it is collective (i.e. our, us, we).

Here is a stab at creating a sixth verse with the same rhythm and rhyme:

His dearly purchased flock will sing
Of the Lamb of God's great love.
Eternal praise in Zion's rest -
Oh, that blessed home above.

The fifth verse from the literal translation looks rather more challenging!

Steve H
Monday, Dec 12, 2022 : 20:10
Nick Fleet said ...

Some might not know the backstory to this hymn. I've read it a few times before and just give the following, which I found by a quick search online:

The words of the German song “Auf dem Lamm ruht meine Seele” (translated as “On the Lamb our souls are resting,”) were written through an experience that changed the life of the author.  As a student in Bonn, Julius Anton von Poseck stood among the spectators who waited eagerly for the great procession on August 15, 1848 on the occasion of the 600th anniversary of the Cologne Cathedral. For some reason, he left his good vantage point, which was taken over right away by a young girl. Immediately afterwards, a large stone fell from the cathedral’s facade, killing the young girl on the spot.  This shook Julius Anton von Poseck so much that he immediately went home, fell to his knees, and cried out: “O God, why was I spared, and why did another person have to die?” This experience led to his conversion. His sister persuaded him to listen to the sermons of Pastor Krafft in Düsseldorf, and after a short time, he came to a complete certainty of salvation. The words of the song “On the Lamb Our Souls are resting, what His love no tongue can say; All our sins, so great, so many, in His blood are washed away” lay on his heart when he stood at a church in Essen-Werde in 1850. There, he had seen a lamb carved in stone at the top of the tower. It was explained to him that many years ago, when a roofer had repaired the tower roof, the hook on which his ladder hung broke off. However, during the terrible fall down below, he miraculously fell onto a small sheep grazing on the lawn below. The sheep was crushed by the falling man, but he escaped with his life. In gratitude for his protection, he had the lamb carved in stone and mounted in the masonry of the tower. The image of how his life had been spared when he was a student, since someone had died in his place at the Cologne Cathedral, brought these words of thanksgiving and adoration from his heart for the King of heaven and earth, who had borne the punishment of his sins there on the cross as the Lamb of God. Through Jesus’ death, he too was granted forgiveness, salvation, and deliverance.

Monday, Dec 12, 2022 : 22:11
Gregory Morris said ...
I am not able to match the sublime poetry of Mrs Bevan but there is no harm in trying

Then our eyes will see with rapture
Him who led us by his grace;
Fed us, blessed us, kept us, brought us
By his love to that blest place.

In those blissfull halls of Zion
There the ransomed shall behold
And extol the faithful Shepherd
Who has brought them to his fold.
Tuesday, Dec 13, 2022 : 21:05
Irma said ...



Does anyone know who wrote the alternative verses, 3 to 6, written in the plural, of
“Auf dem Lamm ruhn unsere Seelen . . .”? They were published in a “Geistliche Lieder” edition about a century ago in Leipzig-Leutzsch. Printed about the same time in Schmoelln, Thueringen, in a “Heils= und Loblieder”, are the original verses of the hymn.
(Umlaut replaced because of copying difficulty.)

Selger Ruhort! — suesser Friede
Fuellet unsre Herzen jetzt;
Da, wo Gott mit Wonne ruhet,
Sind auch wir in Ruh’ gesetzt.

Hier fand Ruhe das Gewissen,
Denn Sein Blut — o reicher Quell! —
Hat vor Gottes heilgen Augen
Uns gewaschen rein und hell.

Nun mit freuderfuellten Herzen
Schaun wir nach der Herrlichkeit,
Wo der Sieger sitzt gekroenet
Auf dem Thron in Ewigkeit.

Was wird’s sein, wenn wir Ihn sehen,
Dessen Lieb unendlich ist,
Dessen Treue uns geleitet —
Gottes Sohn, Herr Jesu Christ!

Dort besingen Seine Liebe
Alle Heilgen immerdar,
Bringen Ihm in jener Ruhe
Dann ein ewges Loblied dar.
Sunday, Dec 18, 2022 : 06:37
Nick Fleet said ...
Irma, I believe they are all based on JAvP's original verses (except verse 4, which is thought to be by Carl Brockhaus). The hymn-books diverged somewhat after the 1890 division and the text may have been revised a bit by Richard Arras. I have a 1921 edition published by August Mann in which #43 seems to follow the above fairly closely, although it's in Old German (Fraktur ?) which makes it harder for Anglophones to read.
Sunday, Dec 18, 2022 : 17:35
Irma said ...


Thank you, Nick. From what you write, it seems that those in Germany, who did not continue in fellowship with the Elberfeld brethren in 1890, published a separate hymnbook. If that were the case, it is likely that one of these brethren, rather than a Brockhaus, made changes to make this and other hymns more suitable for worship. I should be interested to know if there is any mention in the 1921 hymnbook, to which you refer, of the town in which August Mann lived. Just before the beginning of WWII., one bearing that name was the corresponding brother in the Glanton meeting in Hildesheim. As the 1903 “Little Flock” continued to be used for twenty-five years by English-speaking brethren who had separated in 1908, it may be that those not in fellowship together in Germany did the same.

[In the U.K., as late as 1970, many school textbooks used by pupils learning German were still printed in Gothic script! A century earlier J.N.D. was using “ß” - “Eszett” - in his hand-written letters in English!]
Tuesday, Dec 20, 2022 : 04:57
Gregory Morris said ...
When I click on Yarnfield above hoping to hear some more sublime singing, it doesn't group all the Yarnfield ones together. Greg
Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 : 04:10
Tom said ...
Fixed
Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 : 06:52
Gregory Morris said ...
Thank you so much.
Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 : 16:56
Martin Arhelger said ...

The original words of von Poseck’s hymn are unknown; none of von Poseck’s first hymn book  (1851 or 1852) has been preserved. The words of the hymn in the second edition (1856) are here:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julius_Anton_von_Poseck  

The version in use today is first found in the hymnbook "Kleine Sammlung geistlicher Lieder" by Carl Brockhaus, 2nd edition, Elberfeld 1861. Brockhaus deleted some stanzas, reworked others, and added another.

It seems that assemblies of the “Ravens” used the hymnbook of Brockhaus at first. The first original German hymn book of the Ravens was issued in 1897 by Gottlob Wilhelm Eduard Schmidt in Leipzig: „Lieder für das Evangelium“. I don’t have this book but the title suggest that it was used for Gospel work, not for the use in the assembly.

The first hymn book for assembly use (of the Ravens) was issued in 1899 by Christian Schatz in Altenvoerde. (Schatz went with Open Brethren, later.) The hymn of von Poseck was altered from the version of Brockhaus:  All words in the first person singular were changed to the first person plural – doubtless to make it more suitable for corporate worship. (This was done with a lot of other hymns, too.)

The text of von Poseck’s hymn by Schatz is doubtless taken from the Brockhaus-edtion, not from the original version of von Poseck. There is only one little change which might be a hint that Schatz used the original hymn of von Poseck, namely at the beginning of the third stanza:

- Von Poseck (1856):  „Hier fand Ruhe mein Gewissen;“

- Brockhaus (since 1861): „Ruhe fand hier mein Gewissen“

- Schatz (1899): „Hier fand Ruhe das Gewissen“

However, the similarity may be coincidence.

As to the German hymn books of the Ravens: I have made a list here (years ago): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Flock_hymnbook (near to the end of the article).

Martin Arhelger

 

Sunday, Jan 15, 2023 : 20:41
Irma said ...


Thanks to Brother Arhelger for drawing attention to the history of the German hymnbooks and thereby answering my enquiry regarding the 1921 hymnbook, which until recently was unknown to me.

Would he be able to say who published “Heils = Loblieder für Versammlung und Familie”, Max Staude, Schmölln, Thüringen? There are 113 hymns therein, in alphabetical order, the third being, ,Auf dem Lamm . . .’ Not all are German hymns; there are translations of Dr Rossier, J.N.D. and others.

The copy here has the name of an English husband and wife, with the date December 1932, which may indicate that they visited a German-speaking assembly at that time.

Brother August Mann and those who were in fellowship with him would have deprecated the disparaging designation, ‘Ravens’, as they did not hold the views of F.E.R. Indeed, if it were found that any brother held these views, then he was immediately put out of fellowship. There was such a case around the time that Brother Mann was taken to be with Christ.
Tuesday, Jan 17, 2023 : 22:45
Martin Arhelger said ...

Irma,

the publisher of “Heils and Loblieder” was given as “Ernst Jost in Oberdießbach” in Switzerland, perhaps the predecessor of F. A. Burri. But I cannot help you with the compiler of the hymns. It seems that known songs were taken from current hymn books of German and Swiss brethren.

> Brother August Mann and those who were in fellowship
> with him would have deprecated the disparaging
> designation, ‘Ravens’, as they did not hold the views of
> F.E.R. Indeed, if it were found that any brother held these
> views, then he was immediately put out of fellowship. There
> was such a case around the time that Brother Mann
> was taken to be with Christ.

With “Ravens” I meant those who remained in fellowship with FER in the 1890s.

I doubt that the Glantons (before WWII) put out of fellowship those holding to FER. The Glantons opposed the teaching of non-eternals Sonship very strong, but they did not oppose FER generally. I cannot believe that those who “did not hold the views of F.E.R.” distributed tracts by FER and printed articles of him in their magazine.

Let me explain: Max Staude was the editor of the only German magazine of “Glanton” at that time (title: “Der Dienst des Wortes”). Staude also printed articles by FER in his magazine, for example volume 3 (1925), page 118 – 120. (This article contains the denial of FER that the believer has two natures!) or vol. 13 (1935), p. 60. There was also advertisement for writings by FER, CAC, EHC, JT HD’AC and in the early years of this magazine.  It is interesting to see that about 1930, when JT, CAC and others brought forth the evil doctrine of non-eternal Sonship this Glanton magazine stopped the advertisement of writings by JT, CAC and HD’AC – but they did not stop to advertise and sell tracts written by FER nor did they stop to print article by him.

By the way: Max Staude gave up to issue “Der Dienst des Wortes” in 1934 and later held Christian universalism. Hugo Adrian from Düsseldorf got editor of “Der Dienst des Wortes” in 1935 but later joined the Taylorists, probably after WWII.  

Martin

Wednesday, Jan 18, 2023 : 13:35
Gregory Morris said ...
Thank you, Martin.

That is all very interesting. When the meeting I attended as a youth was being considered for membership of the KLG group - the issue of Mr Raven's teaching was not really much of a stumbling block. However as a student in St Andrews, I found that it was very much an issue in the meeting there but that once the matter was considered in depth, I realised that very few people had the foggiest idea of what was being discussed and retreated to party lines. This meant that anyone who was prepared to have fellowship with any meetings that did not repudiate Mr Raven's teaching - even though it was never satisfactorily explained what the objections were - could not be granted membership (and that is what it amounted to) or be received into fellowship.

I was debarred from the open meeting on the grounds of baptismal status so apart from the occasional blessed visits to the wee meeting at Kingskettle, I attended the University Chapel for the next 6 years.

I was for a while convinced that Brethren was a good street to be brought up in and a bad one to live in. However since, I have attended a Church in Wales (Anglican) Church, I have come to realise that the Brethren were, generally speaking, right about most things.

Greg Morris
Wednesday, Jan 18, 2023 : 17:17
Nick Fleet said ...
My association with KLG brethren began in 1986 in NZ. Coming, at that time, from OB (but with a Taylor background) the only issues raised were 'Reception' and 'eternal Sonship'. Back in the UK before the end of that decade, my local meeting was one that had a Lowe->TW->KLC history but since 1974 was in fellowship with Glanton. Never in the subsequent 30 odd years have I been aware of anyone holding or promulgating any of FER's alleged errors. By that, I mean I am not aware of anyone from a K-L background having an issue with any former Glanton brother on those subjects. Similarly, our contacts with Continental Brethren have been regular and constant and many have come to conferences at Kilkeel, Findochty, and 'Plumstead' (though later held at Canterbury, Yarnfield, and Milton Keynes). God willing, many from Germany, Switzerland, France, and the Holland will join us again at Yarnfield this year ('Plumstead' Conference in name only - now sponsored by other meetings), either unaware or not put off by our alleged concealment of FER's heresies. In fact, it was at Yarnfield a few years ago that I heard one leading German teacher (speaking about 'the Son of God') say the same as FER and others have been criticized for saying.
Wednesday, Jan 18, 2023 : 20:55
Mark said ...

We seem to have got round to Mr F E Raven again! And this on something - a hymn - not even connected with him.

I have written enough elsewhere on the question of Mr Raven's teaching, so I do not repeat it all again here. The key expression here is "FER's alleged errors." Whatever these "alleged errors" might have been, there is sufficient evidence available to prove that his critics were not exactly right themselves in their doctrine on the Person of Christ.

The root of this disastrous conflict is a party spirit, as alluded to in an above comment, the taking of sides and adherence to leading teachers, the result being that the sheep of Christ's flock have been scattered, and not a few now isolated.

Thursday, Jan 19, 2023 : 17:51
Jonathan said ...
Mark, I appreciate many come to this site with different views of FER, the one thing that most can probably agree on is that controversy surrounds him even today. I don't go with your 'both-sides' approach to FER and the other party. Even if it was not clear to all at the time, there is now plenty of documents & testimony available to all to show the deletirious impact of his teaching and errors, which really are quite clear today. In my view.
Thursday, Jan 19, 2023 : 21:07
Mark said ...

I am not entirely sure about what is being meant by my 'both-sides' approach to FER and the other party. I suspect it involves my having studied both the ministry of Mr Raven and the writings of his critics. There are indeed plenty of documents & testimony available, but most if not all of these are from those who opposed Mr Raven.

There seems to be a growing attitude set against so-called "Glanton Brethren" having not sufficiently voiced their condemnation of Mr Raven, that evidently now being a criterion for fellowship.

There are some statements made by Mr Raven with which as they stand or as taken alone I do not agree, but the thing which concerns me is the way that his critics are unwilling to admit their own errors.

It is this strict adherence to party line as mentioned above which remains the problem, and the "deletirious impact" cannot be solely attributed to Mr Raven's teaching and errors.

Thursday, Jan 19, 2023 : 22:28
Jonathan said ...
Mark - it is more about trying painting a picture of a degree of equivalence between FER and his critics which I would challenge.

Anyway, any attitude set against Glanton today is in practical terms irrelevant. When the Glanton & Kelly, Lowe etc. merged in the 1970s, there were many questions laid before 'Glanton' during that process, including FER's errors (which are more than alleged, IMHO) and were answered to the satisfaction of all involved in the merger. There remained no meaningful distinction between these groups after the merger, as all those involved at the time (over a generation ago) came to common ground.

Since then it is simply not possible to attach any attitude practially against such a group, as it no longer exists in distinction from the others. The subsequent 'dis-merger' in the 90s / 2000s accentuated this in that it split across (not along) historic KLCG lines.

History students might like to re-run the 1970s merger as an interesting counter-factual, but what is done is done.
Thursday, Jan 19, 2023 : 23:31
Jonathan said ...
Anyway - apologies if any of this stirs the pot. I'm sure we can all agree JAVP's hymn was a great hymn. :-)
Thursday, Jan 19, 2023 : 23:42
Mark said ...

I do not think there is "a degree of equivalence between FER and his critics." That is why sadly there was a division among "brethren" in 1890. The point I am making is that it was not simply the case that Mr Raven had it all wrong and of his critics being right on everything. 

That there were many questions laid before 'Glanton' during that process called at one time a "reunion" rather than a "merger" - which latter term would have been refused - makes me wonder if 'Glanton' asked questions of KLC. The term "KLG" might be used by others, and while the 1997-2002 division of the "Reunited Brethren" might have not been been along but across "KLCG" lines, there seems to be an anti-Raven stance now taken by some with origins in KLC that spills over into other Christian companies never associated with "brethren" such that Mr Raven is known only as an "evil teacher" who maintained his "evil teachings" left unjudged by those who remained in the "fellowship" to which others attached his name. 

The matter now arising goes beyond comments relevant to hymn 57, and being a large subject in itself, I do not wish to continue with it on a webpage supposedly devoted to this hymn. It was simply that yet again Mr Raven's name had somehow entered into it along with "Glantons" and others. 

Friday, Jan 20, 2023 : 00:14
Steve H said ...
Hi Gregory,

Thanks for sharing your experiences, and your comments about the "Brethren Street".

Although there are those who have never ventured beyond the confines of their "select" group - not even to attend a funeral of a family member, other than standing at a distance from others at the graveside, many have experienced great blessing by meeting other Christians from various backgrounds.

I recently came across a 1959 list of meeting which must have been produced by the "exclusives" just before the major exodus over the "eating ministry", when many meetings (and families) were divided, and other friendships/relationships broken.

KingsKettle was featured - the Meeting Room, Crown Square - three meetings on a Sunday - 10:00am, 3:00pm & 6:30pm, with two weeknight evening meetings @ 7:30pm.

Over twenty years ago my wife and I attended an Alpha Course (more out of curiosity than anything else) in the village in which we live, and apart from during the Lockdowns, we have continued to meet about once a month, and this morning we were looking at chapter 4 of Colossians.

We were reminded of the importance of prayer, thankfulness, wise actions, and especially "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how to answer everyone".

This must surely also be true of what we write - including on this site!

Regards,

Steve H





Saturday, Jan 21, 2023 : 05:45
Irma said ...
While we have travelled far from the oft sung hymn, I should like to thank Brother Arhelger for the information he has stated regarding brethren in Germany before WWII.

Over the many years in which I was acquainted with German brethren in fellowship with “Glanton” and those who visited them frequently before WWII., I am not a little surprised to read for the first time the name, Max Staude, and the magazine, “Der Dienst des Wortes”. This is particularly astonishing as one of these dear brethren was a publisher of expositions written by “Glanton” brethren. I should be grateful if Brother Arhelger would furnish me with the names of “Glanton” brethren who contributed to this magazine.

Before me is the copy of a letter, dated July 26, 1937, to brother Walter Adrian from a ministering “Glanton” brother in the U.K. in relation to a letter that the “Lowe” brethren had sent out that year regarding joining the incipient Bund.

It must be remembered that the “Glanton” meetings did not join the Bund. A brother in whose house meetings were held in Düsseldorf had visits from the Gestapo, but he kept them at the door, he himself being a very imposing figure in a position with the police in earlier days.

An Anglo-Irish brother, who was well known to the German brethren from his visits to them between the wars, mentions in a letter here, written in 1946, his regret that it was not possible for brethren in the U.K. to assist, either financially or with parcels of food or clothing, their brethren in Germany who had suffered great loss during the war. The letter speaks of “old brother and sister Mann” in Hildesheim who had been bereaved during the war. As Brother Arhelger will know well, in March 1945 there was the destruction of almost 30% of houses in that city, with an additional 45% damaged.
Wednesday, Feb 1, 2023 : 05:15
Martin Arhelger said ...

Irma,

the first German magazine of those following Raven was “Worte der Gnade und Wahrheit“ published by Max Springer (Vohwinkel) (1893-1896), then probably by Christian Schatz (Altenvoerde) 1897 – 1900 and since 1901 by Herbert H. Harman (Siegen) who was from Great Britain and had married a German Wife. (Harman’s wife Marie was nee Otterbach and her sister, Wilhelmine Otterbach, was married to August Mann, I think.) Harman went with Glanton in ca. 1909. He was interned in Ruhleben 1915 and about that time the magazine ceased. Harman committed suicide (I think before 1920).

The magazine was revived as “Der Dienst des Wortes“ in 1923 by Max Staude (and later Hugo Adrian) until at least 1939. The articles of “Der Dienst des Wortes“ are often signed with initials and clearly show the Glanton background: Often from contemporaries (mostly translations from “Scripture Truth”): Hamilton Smith, A. J. Pollock, J. T. Mawson, F. B. Hole etc. but also Edward Cross, S. L. Jacob, T. Oliver, W. B. Dick, J. Boyd etc. Also older Brethren: JND, JGB, CHM, JBS, FER, J. A. Trench, H. C. Anstey, E. Dennett, T. H. Reynolds, J. C. Trench etc. Several initials I could not identify – probably German writers: JGr (Groth?; JG is perhaps James Green), RSt (Steiner?), AWF (?), SOT (?), TGM (?), TV (?), WMR (?) A Question was answered by “A. M.”, probably August Mann.

Martin

Friday, Feb 3, 2023 : 02:46


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