The Cyber Hymnal ‎#9146

9146. Who Dares Attempt Th'Eternal Name?

1 Who dares attempt th’Eternal Name
With notes of mortal sound?
Dangers and glories guard the theme,
And spread despair around.

2 Destruction waits t’obey His frown,
And Heav’n attends His smile;
A wreath of lightning arms His crown,
But love adorns it still.

3 Celestial King, our spirits lie
Trembling beneath Thy feet,
And wish, and cast a longing eye,
To reach Thy lofty seat.

4 When shall we see the Great Unknown,
And in Thy presence stand?
Reveal the splendors of Thy throne,
But shield us with Thy hand.

5 In Thee what endless wonders meet!
What various glory shines!
The crossing rays too fiercely beat
Upon our fainting minds.

6 Angels are lost in sweet surprise
If Thou unveil Thy grace;
And humble awe runs thro’ the Skies,
When wrath arrays Thy face.

7 When mercy joins with majesty
To spread their beams abroad,
Not all the fairest minds on high
Are shadows of a God.

8 Thy works the strongest seraph sings
In far too feeble strain.
And labors hard on all his strings
To reach Thy thoughts in vain.

9 Created powers, how weak they be!
How short our praises fall!
So much akin to nothing we,
And Thou th’Eternal All.

Text Information

• First Line: Who dares attempt th’Eternal Name
• Title: Who Dares Attempt Th'Eternal Name?
• Author: Isaac Watts
• Meter: CM
• Language: English
• Source: Horae Lyricae Book I, 1706, alt.
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: ABRIDGE
• Composer: Isaac Smith (ca. 1770)
• Meter: CM
• Key: E♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain