James White was a leader in the early Advent movement, and later a pioneer in establishing the Seventh-day Adventist church.
Hymns for God’s Peculiar People
The first songbook he compiled was titled Hymns for Gods Peculiar People, that Keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jesus. It was published in 1849, and consisted of 53 hymns, words only.
Hymns for Second Advent Believers
A second compilation was published a few years later in 1852, substantially larger at 139 hymns, plus a 38 hymn supplement. It was titled, Hymns for Second Advent Believers. It also consisted of words only.
In the Early Advent texts section of our church songbook, Songs of Hope and Trust, we have composed music for many of the texts from “Hymns for Second Advent Believers.” I’ve listed them below, in the order in which they appeared in the original:
The Restitution
The Little Flock
Farewell
New Jerusalem (Glorious Sight)
The Better Land
Close of Time (Time Now is Closing)
The Three Messages
Be Patient
The Pure Testimony
Fall of Babylon (Babylon is Fallen)
I Cannot Go Back
The Coming of the Lord
The Coming Glory
Watchman, tell us of the Night
Christ’s Triumph (Hark, Ten Thousand Harps and Voices)
The Ark
Weary Pilgrim
The Jewels of the Lord
What Sound is This
I Long to See That Day (We’re Going Home!)
Harvest Home
Jubilee (Will You Go Along With Me?)
Come Home
The Last Call (The Last Call of Mercy)
Holiness (By Words and Actions)
Star of Our Hope
God’s Word
Hail to the Brightness
Encouragement
Lord’s Prayer (Come, My Saviour)
Why Sleep Ye! (Why Sleep You!)
Hymn 114 (The God That Made the Earth)
Hymn 117 (Another Six Days’ Work is Done)
Hymn 123 (Welcome, the Sabbath Hour)
Hymn 138: The Sanctuary (There is a House in Heaven)
Hymn 139: Humility (Washing Feet)
Hymn 10 (in Supplement) (We’ll March Around Jerusalem)
Hymn 17 (in Supplement) (The Happy Man)
Hymn 30 (in Supplement) (I Love This Pure Religion)
