Blest be the tie
that binds
our hearts in Christian love;
the fellowship of kindred minds
is like to that above.
Before our Father's throne
we pour our ardent prayers;
our fears, our hopes, our aims are one,
our comforts and our cares.
We share each other's woes,
our mutual burdens bear;
and often for each other flows
the sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part,
it gives us inward pain;
but we shall still be joined in heart,
and hope to meet again.
lyrics by John
Fawcett 1782
music "Dennis" by Johann G.
Nageli
John Fawcett was converted
through the preaching of George Whitefield. He was later ordained
as a Baptist minister and preached at a small church in Wainsgate,
England. Fawcett was offered a larger church in London, so he and
his wife were packed to go. With all their belongings loaded onto a
wagon, the parishioners assembled and pleaded with him to stay. His
wife said, "O John, John, I cannot bear this." Pastor Fawcett
replied, "Neither can I and we will not go. Unload the wagons and
put everything as it was before.” The
crowd cheered and Pastor Fawcett wrote this tune in remembrance of
that occasion. This tune is often used at times of difficult
partings.
This hymn uses Nageli's tune, "Dennis."
This is also the melody commonly used for "And Are We Yet Alive."
