A friend of mine, Sandy, reminded me of Charles Fry, 1881, original hymn of He’s the Lily of the Valley:
The version Karen sent to me and I posted seemed to be a rendition of the original hymn! Enjoy! I love old hymns. I like to think of someone with an oil lamp hovered over paper (not a computer) writing songs, devotionals, prayers about Jesus. 1881! Someone shared this about the song:
The lyrics of this lovely old hymn were written in 1881 by Charles William Fry, with music by William Shakespeare Hays. The lyrics originated in England, and the music's composer was a native of Louisville, Kentucky. The hymn is known by two names: "Lily of the Valley" and "I Have Found a Friend in Jesus."
- I have found a friend in Jesus, He’s everything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see
All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay;
He tells me every care on Him to roll.- Refrain:
He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.
- Refrain:
- He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne;
In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
From my heart and now He keeps me by His pow’r.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal. - He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
While I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
From His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,
Where rivers of delight shall ever roll.