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About Numbered Notation

Numbered Notation (also called Jianpu, 简谱) writes each melody note as a number from 1 to 7 instead of a note on a staff. The number shows the note's position in the song's scale -- not its exact pitch -- so the same tune looks identical no matter what key it's sung in.

Within one octave, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 correspond to the familiar do re mi fa sol la ti. A dot above a number raises it an octave higher; a dot below lowers it an octave lower -- no dot means the middle, as-written octave.

A plain number lasts one beat. A dash (-) right after a number holds that same note for one more beat. A line underneath a number shortens it instead -- one line is half a beat, two lines a quarter of a beat. A 0 is a rest: silence for one beat.

The label at the top of the sheet, like "1=C" or "1=Ab", shows which pitch scale degree 1 ("do") is tuned to. A song in a minor key is labeled "6=X" instead -- scale degree 6 ("la") is the true tonic. Chord names printed above the notes (like "C" or "G7") always use their familiar letter names, never numbers.

For example, under a "1=C" heading, the numbers 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 sound as C D E F G A B. Under a "1=G" heading, those very same numbers sound as G A B C D E F# instead -- same shape, different key.

Thou sweet, beloved will of God

Experience of God Obedience to His Will

English617
1
Thou sweet, beloved will of God,
My anchor ground, my fortress hill,
My spirit’s silent, fair abode,
In Thee I hide me and am still.
2
O Will, that willest good alone,
Lead Thou the way, Thou guidest best;
A little child, I follow on,
And, trusting, lean upon Thy breast.
3
God’s will doth make the bitter sweet,
And all is well when it is done;
Unless His will doth hallow it,
The glory of all joy is gone.
4
Thy beautiful sweet will, my God,
Holds fast in its sublime embrace
My captive will, a gladsome bird,
Prisoned in such a realm of grace.
5
Within this place of certain good
Love evermore expands her wings,
Or nestling in Thy perfect choice,
Abides content with what it brings.
6
Oh, lightest burden, sweetest yoke;
It lifts, it bears my happy soul,
It giveth wings to this poor heart;
My freedom is Thy grand control.
7
Upon God’s will I lay me down,
As child upon its mother’s breast;
No silken couch, nor softest bed,
Could ever give me such deep rest.
8
Thy wonderful grand will, my God,
With triumph now I make it mine;
And faith shall cry a joyous Yes
To every dear command of Thine.

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Marieth

Luanda, Angola

Feb 19, 2022

❤️

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Nelson K

Norwich, United Kingdom

Aug 13, 2021

"Thou sweet, beloved will of God,

My anchor ground, my fortress hill,

My spirit’s silent, fair abode..."

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Jeanette Keating

Salem, OR, United States

Jun 13, 2021

Thank you, Anna for sharing that wonderful history! I was enjoying “Jesus I am resting resting” by Jean P. And it referenced this hymn as one of “hers”. So glad to have yet another hymn and story of one of our brothers in God’s family !

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Ana Lara

Tolland, Connecticut, United States

Aug 9, 2017

My reference for Gerhardt Tersteegen comes from hymntime.com

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Ana Lara

Tolland, Connecticut, United States

Aug 9, 2017

Gerhardt Tersteegen was one of two most famous 18C German hymns writers. He was born November 25, 1697 and died April 3, 1769.

His father abandoned his mother when he was only a child so he grew up in poverty. He wanted to study theology but could no afford to pay for his education so he went into commerce instead.

He preferred the solitary life so he gave up the life of commerce and became a weaver of ribbons. At home he studied in a cloister like environment reading theological books. He became an outstanding lay theologian, lay pastor and mystic of the Protestant Pietism Movement. From 1728, he was an intinerant preacher in the Protestant Awakening Movement hosting home worship and prayer. In 1729, he edited his famous book "Spiritual Flower Garden for Ardent Souls" a collection of hymns, spiritual songs and epigrams.

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