This is another one of those hymns we ought to sing louder–He Who Would Valiant Be (originally To Be a Pilgrim, with words by John Bunyan). This is a performance by choirs from Gloucester Cathedral, Hereford Cathedral, and Worcester Cathedral, all of them in England: there’s life in England yet, thank God. Maybe He will make it burgeon forth again.
My soul needs this nourishment today, so I hope nobody minds if once again I post this–my favorite rendition of one of my very favorite hymns, To Be a Pilgrim (also known as He Who Would Valiant Be).
John Bunyan wrote this song in jail in 1684, having been imprisoned for preaching without a license from the government. He wrote it into Part 2 of his immortal Pilgrim’s Progress.
It doesn’t look like the malicious power of government was able to quench John Bunyan’s spirit, does it?
As for my own spirit, I think for once I’ll post another hymn right after this.
When I hear this hymn, it makes me want to pump my fist and jump up and cry “Yes!” Let’s start our Sunday with it.
You may notice that most of the people in this congregation, singing it, are old. That used to puzzle me when I was young. Now it makes perfect sense: the old, for the most part, really do know better than the young.
But not to divide–let all ages come before the Lord. He wants us all.