Adventist Pioneer Library

Christ — Life and Character

When, like a stranger on our sphere

  • No. 303
  • Words James Montgomery
  • 5 stanzas
  • Words only in the original

Words

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1

When, like a stranger on our sphere,
The lowly Jesus wandered here,
Where'er he went, affliction fled,
And sickness reared her fainting head.

2

The eye that rolled in irksome night,
Beheld his face—for God is light;
The opening ear, the loosened tongue,
His precepts heard, his praises sung.

3

With bounding steps the halt and lame,
To hail their great Deliverer came;
O'er the cold grave he bowed his head,
He spake the word, and raised the dead.

4

Despairing madness, dark and wild,
In his inspiring presence smiled;
The storm of horror ceased to roll,
And reason lighted up the soul.

5

Through paths of loving-kindness led,
Where Jesus triumphed, we would tread;
To all with willing hands dispense
The gifts of our benevolence.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «303» (large) with the reference line «64, 542, 23.» in italics beside it (sing to the tune of hymn 64, 542 or 23), in the right column of p. 100 below the end of hymn 302 and «A. Cleveland Coxe.»; five stanzas, then «James Montgomery» in italics, printed without a final stop. No tune is printed for this hymn (the index's «Bean» is not on the page). The first word «WHEN» is set in capitals and small capitals. The stanza numbers are printed without a period («1» … «5»); the «2» is poorly inked. The print sets a thin space before «;» («light ;», «came ;», «smiled ;», «tread ;»); it is closed up here. The printer's curly apostrophes are written straight («Where'er», «O'er»). «face—for» has an em dash; «loving-kindness» is hyphenated in mid-line in the print. No meter is printed (the text is L. M., like the referenced tunes). Spelling, punctuation and capitals are the print's.

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
Christ — Life and Character · No. 303 · printed page 100
Checked
lyrics verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-10-01