How glorious is our heavenly King

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How glorious is our heavenly King

Author: Isaac Watts (1715)
Tune: CAMPMEETING
Published in 69 hymnals

Representative Text

How glorious is our heavenly King,
Who reigns above the sky!
How shall a child presume to sing
His dreadful majesty?

How great his power is none can tell,
Nor think how large his grace;
Not men below, nor saints that dwell
On high before his face.

22
Not angels, that stand round the Lord,
Can search his secret will;
But they perform his heavenly word,
And sing his praises still.

Then let me join this holy train,
And my first offerings bring:
Th’ eternal God will not disdain
To hear an infant sing.

My heart resolves, my tongue obeys;
And angels will rejoice
To hear their mighty Maker’s praise
Sound from a feeble voice.

Source: Divine and Moral Songs: attempted in easy language for the use of children with some additional composures #HI

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Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

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