As I am, Lord Jesus, take me - a translation of 'Cymer Iesu' by William Williams, Pantycelin

Here, as promised, is a translation of the Welsh hymn 'Cymer Iesu' by William Williams (1717 – 1791). The original words are set out below. The tune, Bryn Calfaria, is in most hymn books.

As I am, Lord Jesus, take me,

Better I shall never be.

You have power to keep me faithful

When my faithless heart would flee.

There is wholeness

Through the wounds of Calvary.

 

Exiled to long weary wandering

Through a wasteland parched and dry,

All alone, I could not triumph

O’er the least of enemies.

But the name of

Jesus bids the mighty flee!

From the cross flows blood that raises

Feeble saints to conquerors

That same blood assures of victory

Over hordes of mighty foes

So from Calvary

Breathes a peace that stills our fears

I will trust, then, in your power

Ever glorious are your deeds!

Trampling death and hell and Satan

Under your victorious feet

Peerless Calvary

Never from my thoughts depart.

Cymer, Iesu, fi fel ‘rydwyf

Fyth ni allaf fod yn well

D’allu di am gwna yn agos

F’ewyllys i yw mynd ymhell

Yn dy glwyfau, yn dy glwyfau

Bydda i’n unig fyth yn iach

Mi ddiffygiais deithior crastir

Dyrys anial wrthyf f’hun

Ac mi fethais â choncweirio

O’m gelynion lleiaf un

Mae dy enw, mae dy enw

‘N able i beri i’r cryfaf ffoi

Gwaed y Groes sy’n codi i fyny

‘Reiddil yn goncwerwr mawr

Gwaed dy Groes sydd darostwng

Cewri cedyrn fyrdd i lawr

Gad i’m deimlo, Gad i’m deilo

Awel o Galfaria fryn

Ymddiriedaf yn dy allu

Mawr yw’r gwaith a wnest erioed

Ti gest angau, Ti gest uffern

Ti gest Satan dan y droed

Pen Calfaria, Pen Calfaria

Nac aed  hwnnw byth o’m cof.

William Williams (1717 - 1791)

Translation © the author of Strangers and Pilgrims, 2010.

Could Bible knowledge destroy you? Matthew Henry on 1Cor 8:2

'Those who think they know something do not yet know as they ought to know' 1 Corinthians 8:2

We think of intelligence as a blessing, and knowledge as something which builds people up spiritually, but for many clever people it is a snare and and a blind path that leads them away from God just as they appear to be knowing most about him. Those of us who are of a more intellectual bent need to guard very carefully against the pride that Biblical study and knowledgeability can so easily lead to. It is the trap that Satan particularly sets for those to whom God has given gifts of learning and wisdom. It is a tragic irony when knowledge of the book which should guide people to God leads to their spiritual death but we can all too easily stop studying it to know God better but instead are simply feeding our self esteem. Instead of nourishing the soul it bloats up.

The always-helpful Matthew Henry says:

'There is no proof of ignorance more common than conceit of knowledge. Much may be known, when nothing is known to good purpose. And those who think they know any thing, and grow vain thereon, are the least likely to make good use of their knowledge. Satan hurts some as much by tempting them to be proud of mental powers, as others, by alluring to sensuality.'

I was very struck by the last sentence. A wrongly-motivated acquisition of Biblical knowledge can be as dangerous for some people as the temptations of sex, money, ambition etc for other - and yet we warn Christians much about the latter but scarcely ever about the former. We particularly need to pray for well known ministers and bible teachers in this respect as it takes a great deal of grace to remain humble when large numbers follow you, read you and quote you. It has been the downfall of some great men.