Hymns and Spiritual Songs, in Three Books ‎#II.CLXVII

II.CLXVII. The divine perfections

1 Great God! thy glories shall employ
My holy fear, my humble joy;
My lips in songs of honour bring
Their tribute to th' eternal King.

2 [Earth and the stars, and worlds unknown,
Depend precarious on his throne;
All nature hangs upon his word,
And grace and glory own their Lord.]

3 [His sov'reign pow'r what mortal knows!
If be commands, who dare oppose?
With strength he girds himself around,
And treads the rebels to the ground.]

4 [Who shall pretend to teach him skill,
Or guide the counsels of his will?
His wisdom like a sea divine,
Flows deep and high beyond our line.

5 [His name is holy, and his eye
Burns with immortal jealousy;
He hates the sons of pride, and sheds
His fi'ry veng'ance on their heads.

6 [The beamings of his piercing sight
Bring dark hypocrisy to light;
Death and destruction naked lie,
And hell uncover'd to his eye.

7 [Th' eternal law before him stands;
His justice, with impartial hands
Divides to all their due reward,
Or by the sceptre, or the sword.]

8 [His mercy, like a boundless sea,
Washes our load of guilt away;
While his own Son came down and dy'd
T' engage his justice on our side.]

9 [Each of his words demands my faith;
My soul can rest on all he saith;
His truth inviolably keeps,
The largest promise of his lips.]

10 O tell me with a gentle voice,
"Thou art my God," and I'll rejoice:
Fill'd with thy love I dare proclaim
The brightest honours of thy name.

Text Information

• First Line: Great God! thy glories shall employ!
• Title: The divine perfections
• Meter: L. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1793

Tune Information

(No tune information)