Blest Be The Tie That Binds

Dr. John Faw­cett was the pas­tor of a small church at Wains­gate, England and was called from there to a larg­er church in Lon­don in 1772. He was to replace the well-known John Gill at Carter's Lane Baptist Church. He ac­cept­ed the call and preached his fare­well ser­mon to his humble congregation. The wa­gons were load­ed with his books and fur­ni­ture, and all was rea­dy for his de­part­ure to London. After the service his pa­rish­ion­ers gath­ered around him, and with tears in their eyes begged of him to stay. His wife said, “Oh John, John, I can­not bear this.” “Neither can I,” ex­claimed the good pas­tor, “and we will not go. Un­load the wa­gons and put ev­ery­thing as it was be­fore.” His de­ci­sion was hailed with great joy by his peo­ple, and he wrote the words of "Blest Be the Tie That Binds" in com­mem­o­ra­tion of the event.

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.

This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way;
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain,
And sin, we shall be free,
And perfect love and friendship reign
Through all eternity.