You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

How Sweet, How Heavenly

Representative Text

1 How sweet, how heav'nly is the sight,
When those that love the Lord
In one another's peace delight,
And so fulfill His word;

2 When each can feel His brother's sigh,
And with him bear a part;
When sorrow flows from eye to eye,
And joy from heart to heart;

3 When free from envy, scorn, and pride,
Our wishes all above,
Each can His brother's failings hide,
And show a brother's love;

4 When love in one delightful stream
Thro' ev'ry bosom flows;
When union sweet and dear esteem
In ev'ry action glows!

5 Love is the golden chain that binds
The happy souls above;
And he's an heir of heav'n who finds
His bosom glow with love.


Source: Christian Hymns: for every purpose in worship #141

Author: Joseph Swain

Swain, Joseph, was born at Birmingham in 1761, and after being apprenticed to an engraver, removed to London. After a time he became a decided Christian, and being of an emotional poetic temperament, began to give expression to his new thoughts and feelings in hymns. In 1783 he was baptized by the Rev. Dr. Rippon, and in 1791 became minister of a Baptist congregation in East Street, Walworth. After a short but popular and very useful ministry, he died April 16, 1796 Swain published the following:— (1) A Collection of Poems on Several Occasions, London, 1781; (2) Redemption, a Poem in five Books, London, 1789; (3) Experimental Essays on Divine Subjects, London, 1791; (4) Walworth Hymns, by J. Swain, Pastor of the Baptist Church Meeting… Go to person page >

Notes

Hymnary Pro Subscribers
Access an additional article on the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology:
Hymnary Pro subscribers have full access to the Canterbury Dictionary of Hymnology. Get Hymnary Pro

Tune

BROWN (Bradbury)


EVAN (Havergal)

This tune [EVAN], "the popularity of which in Scotland, America, and the Colonies is quite unprecedented" (Tonic Sol Fa Reporter, May 15, 1870), consists of the 1st, 2nd, 7th, and 8th strains of "O Thou dread Power" a sacred song by the Rev. W.H. Havergal, the melody being unaltered. EVAN II is the…

Go to tune page >


Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #2631
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances

Instances (1 - 16 of 16)
Page Scan

Church Gospel Songs and Hymns #77

Church Hymnal, Mennonite #462

Favorite Songs of the Church #195

Favourite Hymns of the Church #204

Great Songs of the Church (Revised) #390

Page Scan

Hymns for Worship #219

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #250

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #334

Sacred Selections for the Church #652

Sacred Songs of the Church #223

Songs of Faith and Praise #709

Songs of the Church #398

Songs of the Kingdom (3rd ed.) #370

Standard Songs Of The Church #260

The Baptist Hymnal #465

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #2631

Include 581 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.