You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

My Soul Pursues No Vulgar Theme

Representative Text

1 My soul pursues no vulgar theme,
The force of wit, or beauty’s charm:
The last assize, the Judge supreme,
My inmost heart and soul alarm.

2 See where He comes with solemn state,
In cloudy chariot swiftly borne;
Myriads of angels on Him wait,
His awful progress to adorn.

3 A mighty trump the signal gives
That wakes the nations underground;
Affrights the sea, its dead revives,
Who hear alike the powerful sound.

4 Sublime in air is fixed a throne,
Wrought of a large and splendid cloud;
From hence the Judge to all is known,
Round this the trembling nations crowd.

5 Among the rest I must appear,
Before the glittering judgment seat:
O may I have no cause to fear,
But in the Judge the Savior meet!

6 Now would I make the Judge my friend,
Accept His grace, His laws obey;
Then with the Judge shall I ascend
To worlds of bliss and endless day.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #9458

Author: John Needham

Needham, John, was the son of John Needham, Baptist Minister, of Hitchin, Herts, but the date of his birth is unknown. He would doubtless be educated by his father, who was a tutor and in repute as a learned man. In 1750 Needham became co-pastor with John Beddome at the Baptist meetinghouse in the Pithay, Bristol; but, two years later, Beddome having retired through age, a violent controversy arose in the Church with regard to a continuance of the plan of co-pastorship. As the result, Needham and a number of his friends removed to a Baptist meetinghouse in Callowhill Street, where a Mr. Foot was pastor. For a time the two societies used the same builing at different hours, but in 1755 they were united, with Mr. Needham and Mr. Foot as co-pa… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: My soul pursues no vulgar theme
Title: My Soul Pursues No Vulgar Theme
Author: John Needham
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Source: Hymns Devotional and Moral on Various Subjects (Bristol, England: S. Farley, 1768)
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #9458
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #9458

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.