Giver of the perfect gift

Representative Text

1 Giver of the perfect gift,
only hope of human race,
hear the prayer our hearts uplift
trembling at thy throne of grace.

2 Though the accusing voice within
speaks of many a wrong to thee,
thou canst cleanse from every sin,
thou canst set the conscience free.

3 Who can save us, Lord, but thou?
Let thy mercy show thy power.
Lo, we plead thy promise now,
now, in this accepted hour.

4 Oh! may these our Lenten days,
blest by thee, with thee be passed,
that with purer, nobler praise
we may keep thy feast at last.

5 God the holy trinity,
grant the mercy we implore;
God the One, all praise to thee
through the ages evermore.

Source: Common Praise (1998) #180

Translator: John Ellerton

John Ellerton (b. London, England, 1826; d. Torquay, Devonshire, England, 1893) Educated at King William's College on the Isle of Man and at Trinity College, Cambridge, England, he was ordained in the Church of England in 1851. He served six parishes, spending the longest time in Crewe Green (1860-1872), a church of steelworkers and farmers. Ellerton wrote and translated about eighty hymns, many of which are still sung today. He helped to compile Church Hymns and wrote its handbook, Notes and Illustrations to Church Hymns (1882). Some of his other hymn texts were published in The London Mission Hymn Book (1884). Bert Polman… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Giver of the perfect gift
Latin Title: Summi largitor praemii
Translator: John Ellerton
Source: Latin, c. 11th cent.
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

SONG 13

Orlando Gibbons (PHH 167) composed SONG 13 in soprano and bass parts. Used as a setting for a text from the Song of Songs, the tune was published in George Withers' Hymnes and Songs of the Church (1623) as hymn number 13 (hence the tune name). As in other hymnals, the melody is presented in a simpli…

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BUCKLAND (Hayne)


BATTISHILL


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 3 of 3)
Text

Common Praise (1998) #180

Text

The Cyber Hymnal #11677

Text

Voices United #116

Include 7 pre-1979 instances
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