Walter Lowrie, Missionary to China: No Images of Jesus Christ

He then asked me, if we used no images of Jesus Christ? I said no; that the Roman Catholics used a crucifix, but that I thought this wrong, and that it was folly to worship any image.

—Walter Lowrie, missionary to China

Char­lotte El­li­ott “Friend unseen"

O holy Savior, Friend unseen,  

The faint, the weak on Thee may lean, 

Help me, throughout life’s varying scene, 

By faith to cling to Thee.

—Char­lotte El­li­ott, O Holy Savior, Friend Unseen

In my heart Thy words I cherish, 

Though unseen Thou still art near; 

Since Thy sheep shall never perish, 

What have I to do with fear? 

Trusting in Thy Word I stand, 

None shall pluck me from Thy hand.

—Char­lotte El­li­ott, Safe in Christ

“We love an unseen absent friend"—Thomas Kelly

"Whom having not seen ye love." 1 Pet. i. 8.

WE have not seen the Saviour yet:
Nor shall we until life shall end;
But yet we love him for his grace:
We love an unseen absent friend.

The glorious work he wrought, endears
The Saviour to his people's hearts:
In hope they wait till he appears;
And hope a present joy imparts.

They hope to see their Lord that day,
Descend with all the hosts of heav'n;
The Lord, who bore their sins away:
The Lord, through whom they stand forgiv'n.

They hope, that what they now believe,
They then with joyful eyes shall see:
No more to doubt, no more to grieve;
But with their Lord himself to be.

'Till that bright day we'll think of him;
And may our love with fervour glow:
An unseen Lord be all our theme,
'Till with him hence to Heav'n we go.

—Thomas Kelly (1769-1855)

Andrew Gray: “Faith exerciseth itself upon an invisible object, even upon Christ not seen"

The mysterious acting of the grace of Faith exerciseth itself upon an invisible object, even upon Christ not seen, according to that word, 1 Pet. 5:7. Whom having not seen, ye love, in whom though now ye see him not, yet believing, &c. I pose the greater part to you who are here, whether or not these be two of the greatest Paradoxes and mysteries unto you? For is not this a mystery, to love him whom we never saw? Whom having not seen, yet ye love: To love an absent and unseen Christ, is a mystery to the most part of the world: and is not this a mystery, to believe on him whom we never saw? In whom, though ye see him not, yet believing. And I shall add this that Faith can hold fast its interest with God, not withstanding the most precious Christian should call us hypocrites, and not acknowledge us, this is clear in the practice of Job; And most clear from that word, Isa. 63:16. Doubtless thou art our Father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not.

—Andrew Gray

Jesus, These Eyes Have Never Seen

Jesus, these eyes have never seen

That radiant form of Thine;

The veils of sense hangs dark between

Thy blessed face and mine.

I see Thee not, I hear Thee not,

Yet art Thou oft with me;

And earth hath ne'er so dear a spot

As where I meet with Thee.

Yet though I have not seen, and still 

Must rest in faith alone;

I love Thee, dearest Lord, and will, 

Unseen, but not unknown.

When death these mortal eyes shall seal,

And still this throbbing heart,

The rending veil shall Thee reveal,

All glorious as Thou art.

—Ray Palmer, 1858. Original Trinity Hymnal, #545