獨臂聖詩作家惠特勒
在美國南北內戰中,1863年五月到七月間的威克斯堡(Vicksburg)戰役,有轉捩性的作用。對於參與戰役的惠特勒,其人生也正是如此。
惠特勒 Daniel W. Whittle
惠特勒(Daniel Webster Whittle, 1840-1901)在戰爭中負傷,失去了右臂,更不幸成為南軍的俘虜。
在悲傷,失望,孤單的時候,幸而想起了母親放在他背包中的新約聖經;惠特勒從來沒注意過,現在枯悶的時候,打開來讀,發現很有趣味,使他得安慰。一天又一天,他用心的讀。
有一天,有人來邀請他,去為垂死的士兵禱告。惠特勒說:“我自己這樣污穢,滿身罪惡,怎配為別人禱告?”但那人不由分說,勉強他,並且說:“我見你在讀聖經!”
惠特勒去了。看到那名傷兵,實在需要安慰,他幾乎是悲鳴,哀求着說:“為我禱告!為我禱告!”
惠特勒照所知道的真理,把得救的知識告訴他,為他禱告;就在為別人禱告的同時,惠特勒自己也重生得救了。
惠特勒晉升到少校,退役後,返回芝加哥。在那裏,他成為有名的愛爾今(Elgin)時計製造公司的財務主管,並且熱心事奉主。他也認識了當地以熱心主日學知名的慕迪(Dwight L. Moody, 1837-1899)。
1871年,芝加哥大火,許多房屋化為灰燼。神藉着這場火,也使慕迪覺醒,重新衡量甚麼是能夠存到永久的事工。
1873年,惠特勒受邀加入了慕迪的佈道團。他一直與慕迪同工,寫了百多首詩歌,由不同的作曲家譜曲,隨着復興的火焰所到之處,都有人歌唱他筆流出的福音信息。
但我知道所信的
我不知神奇妙恩典
如何向我啟示
不堪如我竟蒙主愛
救贖歸祂自己
但我知道所信的是誰
信祂能保全
所深信交付與祂的
安然一直到那天
我不知主如何賜我
相信得救的恩
如何因信祂的真道
平安進入我心
我不知人如何知罪
藉聖靈的感動
啟示聖經顯明耶穌
使人信祂得生
我不知主何時再臨
是夜間或正午
主與同在經死蔭谷
或在空中遇主
I Know Whom I Have Believed
I know not why God's wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
But "I know whom I have believed,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I've committed
Unto Him against that day."
I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Now how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.
I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.
I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I'll walk the vale with Him,
Or "meet Him in the air."
每時每刻
與耶穌同死舊我如已死
與耶穌同活新生不為己
注視主耶穌到照出主榮
每時與每刻主啊我屬你
每時與每刻生命從上給
每時與每刻常在主愛裏
注視主耶穌到照出主榮
每時與每刻主啊我屬你
沒有一試探我主不在旁
沒有一重擔我主不擔當
沒有一憂傷我主不分嘗
每時與每刻祂眷顧不忘
沒有一歎息沒有一呻吟
沒有一危險沒有一傷心
沒有一眼淚不達到寶座
每時與每刻祂關心子民
沒有一軟弱祂不能感受
沒有一疾病祂不能拯救
每時與每刻安福或禍災
耶穌我救主仍與我同在
Moment by Moment
Dying with Jesus, by death reckoned mine;
Living with Jesus, a new life divine;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
Moment by moment I'm kept in His love;
Moment by moment I've life from above;
Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine,
Moment by moment, O Lord, I am Thine.
Never a trial that He is not there,
Never a burden that He doth not bear,
Never a sorrow that He doth not share,
Moment by moment I'm under His care.
Never a heart-ache and never a groan,
Never a tear-drop and never a moan,
Never a danger but there on the Throne,
Moment by moment He thinks of His own.
Never a weakness that He doth not feel,
Never a sickness that He cannot heal;
Moment by moment, in woe or in weal,
Jesus, my Saviour, abides with me still.