Chapter 5 of 32 · 3979 words · ~20 min read

Part 5

3. For as a tender father Hath pity on his children here, He in His arms will gather All who are His in childlike fear. He knows how frail our powers, Who but from dust are made; We flourish as the flowers, And even so we fade; The wind but o’er them passes, And all their bloom is o’er,— We wither like the grasses, Our place knows us no more.

4. His grace alone endureth, And children’s children yet shall prove How God with strength assureth The hearts of all that seek His love. In heaven is fixed His dwelling, His rule is over all; Angels in might excelling, Bright hosts, before Him fall! Praise Him who ever reigneth, All ye who hear His Word, Nor our poor hymns disdaineth;— My soul, O bless the Lord!

G. Graumann, 1525; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7

To God, the Father of all love, The God of earth and heaven, The mighty God, who reigns above, Be praise and glory given! With healing balm my soul He fills And every pain and sorrow stills,— To God all praise and glory!

2. The angel host, O King of kings, Thy praise forever telling, In earth and sky all living things Beneath Thy shadow dwelling, Adore and praise their Maker’s might, Whose wisdom orders all things right,— To God all praise and glory!

3. What God’s almighty power hath made His gracious mercy keepeth; By morning glow or evening shade His watchful eye ne’er sleepeth; Within the kingdom of His might, Lo! all is just and all is right,— To God all praise and glory!

4. I cried to God in my distress, His mercy heard me calling; My Savior saw my helplessness And kept my feet from falling. For this, Lord, praise and thanks to Thee! Praise God most high, praise God with me,— To God all praise and glory!

5. The Lord forsaketh not His flock, His chosen generation; He is their Refuge and their Rock, Their Peace and their Salvation, And with a mother’s watchful love He guides them wheresoe’er they rove,— To God all praise and glory!

6. When earth can comfort us no more Nor human help availeth, The Maker comes Himself, whose store Of blessing never faileth, And bends on them a Father’s eyes, Whom earth all rest and hope denies,— To God all praise and glory!

7. Thus all my pilgrim way along I’ll sing aloud Thy praises That men may hear the grateful song My voice unwearied raises. Be joyful in the Lord, my heart; Both soul and body, bear your part,— To God all praise and glory!

8. Ye who confess Christ’s holy name, To God give praise and glory! Ye who the Father’s power proclaim, To God give praise and glory! All idols under foot be trod, The Lord is God! The Lord is God! To God all praise and glory!

9. Then come before His presence now And banish fear and sadness; To your Redeemer pay your vow And sing with joy and gladness: Though great distress my soul befall, The Lord, my God, rules over all,— To God all praise and glory!

J. J. Schuetz, 1673.

C. M.

Songs of immortal praise belong To my almighty God: He hath my heart and He my tongue To spread His name abroad.

2. How great the works His hand hath wrought! How glorious in our sight! And men in every age have sought His wonders with delight.

3. How most exact is nature’s frame! How wise th’ eternal Mind! His counsels never change the scheme That His first thoughts designed.

4. When He redeemed the sons of men, He fixed His covenant sure; The orders that His lips pronounce To endless years endure.

5. Nature and time and earth and skies Thy heavenly skill proclaim. What shall we do to make us wise But learn to read Thy name!

6. To fear Thy power, to trust Thy grace, Is our divinest skill; And he’s the wisest of our race Who best obeys Thy will.

Isaac Watts, 1719.

9, 8, 9, 8, 8, 8

O that I had a thousand voices, A mouth to speak with thousand tongues! My heart, which in the Lord rejoices, Then would proclaim in grateful songs To all, wherever I might be, What great things God hath done for me.

2. O that my voice might high be sounding, Far as the widely distant poles; My blood run quick, with rapture bounding, Long as its vital current rolls, And every pulse thanksgiving raise, And every breath a hymn of praise!

3. O all ye powers that God implanted, Arise, keep silence thus no more, Put forth the strength that He hath granted! Your noblest work is to adore. My soul and body, make ye meet With heartfelt praise your Lord to greet!

4. Ye forest leaves, so green and tender, That dance for joy in summer air; Ye meadow grasses, bright and slender; Ye flowers, so wondrous sweet and fair; Ye live to show His praise alone, Help me to make His glory known!

5. O all things that have breath and motion, That throng with life, earth, sea, and sky, Now join me in my heart’s devotion, Help me to raise His praises high; My utmost powers can ne’er aright Declare the wonders of His might.

6. Dear Father, endless praise I render For soul and body, strangely joined; I praise Thee, Guardian kind and tender, For all the noble joys I find So richly spread on every side And freely for my use supplied.

7. What equal praises can I offer, Dear Jesus, for Thy mercy shown? What pangs, my Savior, didst Thou suffer, And thus for all my sins atone! Thy death alone my soul could free From Satan, to be blest with Thee.

8. Glory and praise, still onward reaching, Thine be it, Spirit of all grace, Whose holy power and faithful teaching Give me among Thy saints a place! Whate’er of good in me may shine Comes only from Thy light divine.

9. Who grants abundant gifts to bless me? Who but Thyself, O God of love? Who guards my ways lest fears oppress me? ’Tis Thou, Lord God of hosts, above! And when my sins Thy wrath provoke, Thy patience, Lord, forbears the stroke.

10. I kiss the rod, too, unrepining, When God His chastening makes me feel, My graces call for His refining, The trial works no lasting ill; It purifies and makes it known That He regards me as His own.

11. In life I often have discovered, With gratitude and glad surprise, When clouds of sorrows o’er me hovered, God sent from them my best supplies. In troubles He is ever near And shows me all a Father’s care.

12. Why not, then, with a faith unbounded, Forever in His love confide? Why not, with earthly griefs surrounded, Rejoicing still in hope abide, Until I reach that blissful home Where doubt and sorrow never come?

13. No more low vanities regarding, To Thee, in whom I find my rest, I cry, my inmost soul according, “My God, Thou art the Highest, Best; Strength, honor, praise, and thanks, and power Be Thine both now and evermore!”

14. Lord, I will tell, while I am living, Thy goodness forth with every breath And greet each morning with thanksgiving Until my heart is still in death; Yea, when at last my lips grow cold, Thy praise shall in my sighs be told.

15. O Father, deign Thou, I beseech Thee, To listen to my earthly lays; A nobler strain in heav’n shall reach Thee, When I with angels hymn Thy praise And learn amid their choirs to sing Loud hallelujahs to my King.

J. Mentzer, 1704.

14, 14, 4, 7, 8

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy Health and Salvation! Join the full throng; Wake, harp and psalter and song; Sound forth in glad adoration!

2. Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things so wondrously reigneth, Who, as on wings of an eagle, uplifteth, sustaineth. Hast thou not seen How thy desires all have been Granted in what He ordaineth?

3. Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee; Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee! What need or grief Ever hath failed of relief?— Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

4. Praise to the Lord, who doth visibly bless and defend thee; Who from the heavens the streams of His mercy doth send thee! Ponder anew What the Almighty can do If with His love He befriend thee.

5. Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him! All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him! He is thy Light; Soul, keep it always in sight, Gladly forever adore Him!

J. Neander, 1680.

6, 7, 6, 7, 6, 6, 6, 6

Now thank we all our God With heart and hands and voices, Who wondrous things hath done, In whom His world rejoices; Who from our mother’s arms Hath blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love And still is ours to-day.

2. Oh, may this bounteous God Through all this life be near us, With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us; And keep us in His grace, And guide us when perplexed, And free us from all ills In this world and the next.

3. All praise and thanks to God The Father now be given, The Son, and Him who reigns With them in highest heaven: The one eternal God, Whom earth and heaven adore; For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore!

Martin Rinckart, 1630; C. Winkworth, tr.

8, 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7

I will sing my Maker’s praises And in Him most joyful be, For in all things I see traces Of His tender love to me. Nothing but His love could move Him With such sweet and tender care Evermore to raise and bear All who try to serve and love Him. All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

2. As an eagle spreadeth over Her young brood her sheltering wings, So the arm of God did cover Me against affliction’s stings. He who life and being gave me, Even in my mother’s womb, From the cradle to the tomb, He shall ever guard and save me. All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

3. Yea, so dear did He esteem me That His Son He loved so well He hath given to redeem me From the quenchless flames of hell. O Thou Spring of boundless blessing, How could e’er my feeble mind Of Thy depth the bottom find, Though my efforts were unceasing? All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

4. God His Spirit to instruct me In His holy Word hath giv’n That He safely may conduct me Through this weary world to heav’n. He my heart’s dark chamber filleth With the clear, pure light of faith, Which destroys the power of death; Yea, e’en hell itself it stilleth. All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

5. All that for my soul is needful He doth carefully provide, Nor of that is He unheedful Which my body needs beside. When my strength cannot avail me, When my powers can do no more, Doth my God His strength outpour, In my need He doth not fail me. All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

6. All the hosts of earth and heaven Wheresoe’er I turn mine eye, For my benefit are given That they may my need supply. All that’s living, all that’s growing, On the heights or in the woods, In the vales or in the floods, God is for my good bestowing. All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

7. When I sleep, He still is near me, O’er me rests His guardian eye; And new gifts and blessings cheer me When the morning streaks the sky. Were it not for God’s protection, Had His countenance not been Here my guide, I had not seen Any end of my affliction. All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

8. Ah, how often doth the devil Cause some great calamity! But my life from all such evil Till this moment has been free. For the angel whom God sendeth, Wardeth off each threatening hurt, Every evil doth avert That mine enemy intendeth. All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

9. As a father never turneth Wholly from a wayward child, For the prodigal still yearneth, Longing to be reconciled: So my many sins and errors Find a tender, pardoning God, Chast’ning frailty with His rod, Not, in vengeance, with His terrors. All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

10. All His strokes and scourges truly For the moment grievous prove And yet, when I weigh them duly, Are but tokens of His love, Proofs that He is watching o’er me And by crosses to His fold, From the world that fain would hold Soul and body, would restore me. All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

11. On this thought I dwell with pleasure; For it granteth joy and peace. Christ’s cross hath its time and measure And at last will wholly cease. When the winter disappeareth, Lovely summer comes again; Joy is giv’n for woe and pain Who his cross in patience beareth. All things have their little day, God’s great love abides for aye.

12. Since, then, neither change nor coldness In my Father’s love can be, Lo, I lift my hands with boldness, As Thy child I come to Thee. Grant me grace, O God, I pray Thee, That I may with all my might, All my lifetime, day and night, Love and trust Thee and obey Thee; And when this brief life is o’er, Praise and love Thee evermore.

Paul Gerhardt, 1659.

L. M.

Thee we adore, eternal Lord! We praise Thy name with one accord; Thy saints, who here Thy goodness see, Through all the world do worship Thee.

2. To Thee aloud all angels cry, The heavens and all the powers on high; Thee, “Holy, Holy, Holy King, Lord God of hosts!” they ever sing.

3. Th’ apostles join the glorious throng; The prophets swell th’ immortal song; Thy martyrs’ noble army raise Eternal anthems to Thy praise.

4. From day to day, O Lord, do we Highly exalt and honor Thee. Thy name we worship and adore World without end, forevermore!

5. Vouchsafe, O Lord, we humbly pray, To keep us safe from sin this day; Have mercy, Lord! We trust in Thee; O let us ne’er confounded be!

T. Cotterill, 1815, a.

9, 10, 9, 10, 10, 10

Jehovah, let me now adore Thee, For where is there a God such, Lord, as Thou? With songs I fain would come before Thee; O let Thy Holy Spirit teach me now To praise Thee in His name, through whom alone Our songs can please Thee, through Thy blessed Son.

2. O Father, draw me to my Savior That Thy dear Son may draw me unto Thee; Thy Spirit guide my whole behavior And rule both sense and reason thus in me, That, Lord, Thy peace I taste may ne’er depart, But wake sweet melodies within my heart.

3. Grant that Thy Spirit prompt my praises, Then shall my singing surely please Thine ear; Sweet are the sounds my heart then raises, My prayer in truth and spirit Thou wilt hear. Then shall Thy Spirit raise my heart to Thee To sing Thee psalms of praise in high degree.

4. For He can plead for me with sighings That are unspeakable to lips like mine; He bids me pray with earnest cryings, Bears witness with my soul that I am Thine, Joint heir with Christ and thus may dare to say: O Abba, Father, hear me when I pray!

5. When thus my heart in prayer ascendeth Through Thine own Holy Spirit unto Thee, Thy heart, O Father, kindly bendeth Its fervent love and favor unto me, Rejoicing my petition to fulfil Which I have made according to Thy will.

6. And what Thy Spirit thus hath taught me To seek from Thee must needs be such a prayer As Thou wilt grant, through Him who bought me And raised me up to be Thy child and heir. In Jesus’ name I, fearless, seek Thy face And take from Thee, my Father, grace for grace.

7. O joy! my hope and trust are founded On His sure Word and witness in the heart; I know Thy mercies are unbounded, And all good gifts Thou freely wilt impart; Nay, more is lavished by Thy bounteous hand Than I can ask or seek or understand.

8. O bliss! in Jesus’ name I’ve tendered My prayer; He pleads at Thy right hand for me. Yea and amen in Him is rendered What I in faith and spirit ask of Thee. O joy for me! and praise be ever Thine Whose wondrous love has made such blessings mine!

Bartholomew Crasselius, 1697; C. Winkworth, tr., a.

Songs of praise the angels sang, Heaven with hallelujahs rang, When Jehovah’s work begun, When He spake, and it was done.

2. Songs of praise awoke the morn When the Prince of Peace was born; Songs of praise arose when He Captive led captivity.

3. Heaven and earth must pass away; Songs of praise shall crown that day: God will make new heavens and earth; Songs of praise shall hail their birth.

4. And shall man alone be dumb Till that glorious kingdom come? No; the Church delights to raise Psalms and hymns and songs of praise.

5. Saints below, with heart and voice, Still in songs of praise rejoice; Learning here, by faith and love, Songs of praise to sing above.

6. Borne upon their latest breath, Songs of praise shall conquer death; Then, amidst eternal joy, Songs of praise their powers employ.

James Montgomery, 1819.

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Lord, ’tis not that I did choose Thee, That could never be, For this heart would still refuse Thee; Thou hast chosen me, Hast from all the sin that stained me Washed and set me free And unto this end ordained me, That I live to Thee.

2. ’Twas Thy love and mercy called me, Taught my opening mind; Else the world had yet enthralled me, To Thy glories blind. Now my heart owns none above Thee; For Thy grace I thirst; Knowing well that, if I love Thee, Thou didst love me first.

3. Praise the God of all creation For His boundless love; Praise the Lamb, our Expiation, Priest enthroned above; Praise the Spirit of salvation, Him by whom we live; Undivided adoration To the Godhead give!

Josiah Condor, † 1855.

L. M.

Give to our God immortal praise! Mercy and truth are all His ways, Wonders of grace to God belong; Repeat His mercies in your song.

2. Give to the Lord of lords renown, The King of kings with glory crown. His mercies ever shall endure When lords and kings are known no more.

3. He built the earth, He spread the sky, And fixed the starry lights on high. Wonders of grace to God belong; Repeat His mercies in your song.

4. He fills the sun with morning light, He bids the moon direct the night; His mercies ever shall endure When suns and moons shall shine no more.

5. He sent His Son with power to save From guilt and darkness and the grave. Wonders of grace to God belong; Repeat His mercies in your song.

6. Through this vain world He guides our feet And leads us to His heavenly seat. His mercies ever shall endure When this vain world shall be no more.

Ps. 136. Isaac Watts, 1719.

7s 6 l

God of mercy, God of grace, Show the brightness of Thy face! Shine upon us, Savior, shine, Fill Thy Church with light divine, And Thy saving health extend Unto earth’s remotest end.

2. Let the people praise Thee, Lord! Be by all that live adored; Let the nations shout and sing Glory to their Lord and King, At Thy feet their tribute pay, And Thy holy will obey.

3. Let the people praise Thee, Lord! Earth shall then her fruits afford, God to man His blessing give, Man to God devoted live; All below and all above One in joy and light and love.

H. F. Lyte, 1834.

C. M.

When all Thy mercies, O my God, My rising soul surveys, Transported with the view, I’m lost In wonder, love, and praise.

2. Ten thousand thousand precious gifts My daily thanks employ; Nor is the least a cheerful heart, That tastes those gifts with joy.

3. Through every period of my life Thy goodness I’ll pursue; And after death, in distant worlds, The glorious theme renew.

4. When nature fails, and day and night Divide Thy works no more, My ever grateful heart, O Lord, Thy mercies shall adore.

5. Through all eternity to Thee A joyful song I’ll raise; But oh! eternity’s too short To utter all Thy praise.

J. Addison, 1712, abr.

L. M. 6 l

I’ll praise my Maker whilst I’ve breath; And when my voice is lost in death, Praise shall employ my nobler powers. My days of praise shall ne’er be past While life and thought and being last Or immortality endures.

2. Happy the man whose hopes rely On Israel’s God, who made the sky And earth and seas with all their train; His truth forever stands secure; He saves th’ oppressed, He feeds the poor, And none shall find His promise vain.

3. The Lord gives eyesight to the blind; The Lord supports the sinking mind; He sends the laboring conscience peace; He helps the stranger in distress, The widow and the fatherless, And grants the prisoner sweet release.

4. I’ll praise Him while He lends me breath; And when my voice is lost in death, Praise shall employ my nobler powers: My days of praise shall ne’er be past, While life and thought and being last Or immortality endures.

Isaac Watts, 1719, a.

C. M.

To God be glory, peace on earth, To all mankind good will! We bless, we praise, we worship Thee, And glorify Thee still.

2. And thanks for Thy great glory give, That fills our soul with light, O Lord, our heavenly King, the God And Father of all might!

3. And Thou, begotten Son of God, Before all time begun; O Jesus Christ, Thou Lamb of God, The Father’s only Son:

4. Have mercy, Thou, that tak’st the sins Of all the world away! Have mercy, Savior of mankind, And hear us when we pray!

5. O Thou, who sitt’st at God’s right hand, Upon the Father’s throne, Have mercy on us, Thou, O Christ, Who art the Holy One!

6. Thou only, with the Holy Ghost, Whom earth and heaven adore, In glory of the Father art Most high forevermore.

Supplement to Tate and Brady, 1700, a.

C. M.

Through all the changing scenes of life, In trouble and in joy, The praises of my God shall still My heart and tongue employ.