Adventist Pioneer Library

The Christian — Godly Life

When Jesus dwelt in mortal clay

  • No. 634
  • Words Thomas Gibbons.
  • 4 stanzas
  • Words only in the original

Words

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1

When Jesus dwelt in mortal clay,What were his works, from day to day,But miracles of power and graceThat spread salvation through our race?

2

Teach us, O Lord, to keep in viewThy pattern, and thy steps pursue;Let alms bestowed, let kindness done,Be witnessed by each rolling sun.

3

That man may last, but never lives,Who much receives, but nothing gives;Whom none can love, whom none can thank,Creation's blot, creation's blank!

4

But he who marks, from day to day,In generous acts his radiant way,Treads the same path his Saviour trod,The path to glory and to God.

About this hymn

As printed Words only. As printed: hymn number «634» (large) in the right column of p. 207, below hymn 633; reference line «223, 104, 343.» in bold italic figures beside it (sing to the tune of hymn 223, 104 or 343); four stanzas numbered «1»–«4» without periods (written «1.»–«4.» here, as in the other deliveries of this book); «Thomas Gibbons.» in italics at the end. The first word «WHEN» is set as a capital W followed by «HEN» in small capitals. All four lines of each stanza are set flush. The print sets a thin space before «;» and «!» («pursue ;», «gives ;», «blank !»); it is closed up here. «Whom none can love, whom none can thank,» is set with almost closed word spaces; written with normal spaces. In stanza 3 the second «e» of «receives» is a broken letter (it looks like «receivcs»); read «receives». The printer's apostrophe is written straight («Creation's»). No meter is printed (the text is L. M., 8.8.8.8).

Source
The Seventh-day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book (Battle Creek: Review & Herald, 1886/1888)
Where
The Christian — Godly Life · No. 634 · printed page 207
Checked
lyrics verified (fork reading; parent check pending) · 2026-10-02