The Story of the Hymns and Tunes, page 99 by Theron Brown
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EAR FRIENDS."
This hymn, called "The Bower of Prayer," was dear to Christian hearts in many homes and especially in rural chapel worship half a century ago and earlier, and its sweet legato melody still lingers in the memories of aged men and women.
Elder John Osborne, a New Hampshire preacher of the "Christian" (Christ-ian) denomination, is said to have composed the tune (and possibly the words) about 1815--though apparently the music was arranged from a flute interlude in one of Haydn's themes. The warbling notes of the air are full of heart-feeling, and usually the best available treble voice sang it as a solo.
To leave my dear friends and from neighbors to part, And go from my home, it affects not my heart Like the thought of absenting myself for a day From that blest retreat I have chosen to pray, I have chosen to pray.
The early shrill notes of the loved nightingale That dwelt in the bower, I observed as my bell: It called me to duty, while birds in the air Sang anthems of praises as I went to prayer, As I went to prayer.[13]
How sweet were the zephyrs perfumed by the pine, The ivy, the balsam, the wild eglantine, But sweeter, O, sweeter superlative were The joys that I tasted in answer to prayer, In answer to prayer.
[Footnote 13: The American Vocalist omits this stanza as too fanciful as well as too crude]
"SAVIOUR, THY DYING LOVE."
This hymn of grateful piety was written in 1862, by Rev. S. Dryden Phelps, D.D., of New Haven, and first published in Pure Gold, 1871; afterwards in the (earlier) Baptist Hymn and Tune Book.
Saviour, Thy dying love Thou gavest me, Nor should I aught withhold Dear Lord, from Thee.
* * * * *
Give me a faithful heart, Likeness to Thee, That each departing day Henceforth may see Some work of love begun, Some deed of kindness done, Some wand'rer sought and won, Something for Thee.
The penultimate line, originally "Some sinful wanderer won," was altered by the auth