Christ, a True Friend

Representative Text

1 One there is, above all others,
well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother's,
costly, free, and knows no end;
they who once His kindness prove,
find it everlasting love!

2 Which of all our friends to save us,
could or would have shed their blood?
But our Jesus died to have us
reconciled in Him to God;
this was boundless love indeed!
Jesus is a Friend in need.

3 Men, when raised to lofty stations,
often know their friends no more;
slight and scorn their poor relations
though they valued them before.
But our Savior always owns
those whom He redeemed with groans.

4 When He lived on earth abased,
Friend of sinners was His name;
now, above all glory raised,
He rejoices in the same;
still He calls them brethren, friends,
and to all their wants attends.

5 Could we bear from one another,
what He daily bears from us?
Yet this glorious Friend and Brother
loves us though we treat Him thus;
though for good we render ill,
He accounts us brethren still.

6 O for grace our hearts to soften!
Teach us, Lord, at length to love;
we, alas! forget too often
what a Friend we have above;
but when home our souls are brought,
we will love Thee as we ought.


Source: Psalms and Hymns to the Living God #319

Author: John Newton

John Newton (b. London, England, 1725; d. London, 1807) was born into a Christian home, but his godly mother died when he was seven, and he joined his father at sea when he was eleven. His licentious and tumul­tuous sailing life included a flogging for attempted desertion from the Royal Navy and captivity by a slave trader in West Africa. After his escape he himself became the captain of a slave ship. Several factors contributed to Newton's conversion: a near-drowning in 1748, the piety of his friend Mary Catlett, (whom he married in 1750), and his reading of Thomas à Kempis' Imitation of Christ. In 1754 he gave up the slave trade and, in association with William Wilberforce, eventually became an ardent abolitionist. After becoming a tide… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: One there is, above all others, Well deserves the name of Friend
Title: Christ, a True Friend
Author: John Newton (1779)
Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7
Language: English
Notes: Spanish translation: See "Majestuoso Soberano" by Salvador Gómez Dickson
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

LUX PRIMA (Gounod)

French romanticist composer Charles F. Gounod (PHH 165) wrote LUX PRIMA, which means "first light" in Latin. When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870, Gounod left his native Paris and settled in England for five years. This sturdy tune was published in the Scottish Hymnary in 1872. It uses sev…

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Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 682)

A Choice Selection of Hymns. 6th ed. #d207

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A Collection of Evangelical Hymns #XVII

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy for the Use of Evangelical Lutheran Churches #120

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy #120

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A Collection of Hymns and A Liturgy #120

A Collection of Hymns and Psalms for the Use of Singing School and Musical Societies #d121

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A Collection of Hymns and Sacred Songs #150

A Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion #d202

A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. Rev. ed. #d587

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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #106

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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the Wesleyan Methodist Connection of America. #63

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Use of Universalist Societies and Families 16ed. #260

A Collection of Psalms and Hymns Suited to the Various Occasions of Public Worship #d257

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #A37

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A Collection of Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #151

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A Collection of Spiritual Hymns #102

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A Handy Book of Old and Familiar Hymns #111

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A Hymnal and Service Book for Sunday Schools, Day Schools, Guilds, Brotherhoods, etc. #361

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A Manual of Devotion and Hymns for the House of Refuge, City of New York #124

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A Pastor's Selection of Hymns and Tunes #354

A Selection of Hymns #d224

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A Selection of Hymns for Public Worship. In four parts (10th ed.) (Gadsby's Hymns) #133

A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors #d303

A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for ... Diocese of Nova Scotia. 3rd ed. #d273

A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for the Use of the Diocese of Nova Scotia. 3rd ed. #d274

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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #585

Additional Hymns, Designed as a Supplement to Dwight's Psalms & Hymns #d144

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African Methodist Episcopal hymn and tune book #568

Ambassador Hymnal #194

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American Psalmody #214

American Sunday School Hymn Book. 2nd ed. #a87

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American Sunday School Hymn Book. New ed. #aa87

Anniversary Hymns #d81

Appendix to Mennonite Hymn Book #d34

Armed Forces Service Book for Public and Private Use. 2nd rev. ed. #d74

Army and Navy Service Book for Public and Private Use. Rev. ed. #d64

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Augsburg Songs No. 2 #149

Augsburg Songs, Nos. l and 2 Combined #d239

Book of Common Praise #d448

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Book of Worship (Rev. ed.) #108

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Book of Worship with Hymns and Tunes #133

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Book of Worship #108

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Bradbury's Sabbath School Melodies, and Family Choir #117

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d715

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Cân a Mawl #54

Cantica Laudis #d237

Carmina for Social Worship #d198

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Carmina for the Sunday School and Social Worship #75

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Carmina Sanctorum, a selection of hymns and songs of praise with tunes #582

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Carmina Sanctorum #582

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Chapel Treasures (Christ Chapel Sabbath-School, Lebanon, PA) #97

Children's Diadem #d88

Children's Hymnal #91

Children's Praise #d113

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Children's Praise #96

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Choice Hymns #216

Christ in Song #d441

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Christ in Song #428

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Christ in Song #171

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Christian Chorals #12

Christian Hymns to be used by the Children of God. 2nd ed. #d155

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Christian Praise #220

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Christian Praise #354

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Christian Praise #354

Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d720

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Christian Songs #160

Christian Youth Hymnal #199

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Church and Sunday School Hymnal with Supplement #26

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Church Book #220

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Church Book #220

Church Hymnal, Fourth Edition #667

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Church Hymnal, Mennonite #283

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #283

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #d425

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Church Hymns and Tunes #255

Church Melodies, a Collection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d843

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Church music #CCLVI

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Church Pastorals, hymns and tunes for public and social worship #350

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Church Pastorals, hymns and tunes for public and social worship #459

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Church Psalmist #713

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Church Psalmist #713

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Church Psalmody #H148

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Church Psalmody #148

Church School Hymnal for Children, Grades 3 to 6 #d101

Church School Hymnal for Children, Grades I-VI #d83

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Common Praise #473

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