Peace, Perfect Peace

229 Peace, Perfect Peace

1 Peace, perfect peace, in this dark world of sin?
   The blood of Jesus whispers peace within.

2 Peace, perfect peace, by thronging duties pressed?
   To do the will of Jesus, this is rest.

3 Peace, perfect peace, death shadowing us and ours?
   Jesus has vanquished death and all its powers.

4 Peace, perfect peace, our future all unknown?
   Jesus we know, and he is on the throne.

5 It is enough: earth's struggles soon shall cease,
   and Jesus call to heaven's perfect peace.
                         Edward H. Bickersteth
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1964 edition

<idle musing>
A very simple hymn, but its message is as desperately needed today as ever. I don't ever recall singing it and it only occurs in about 390 hymnals.

Hymnary.org's biography of him says this:

Joined with a strong grasp of his subject, true poetic feeling, a pure rhythm, there is a soothing plaintiveness and individuality in his hymns which give them a distinct character of their own. His thoughts are usually with the individual, and not with the mass: with the single soul and his God, and not with a vast multitude bowed in adoration before the Almighty. Hence, although many of his hymns are eminently suited to congregational purposes, and have attained to a wide popularity, yet his finest productions are those which are best suited for private use.

Seems this was his most popular hymn.
</idle musing>