We Give Immortal Praise

Representative Text

1 We give immortal praise
to God the Father's love
for all our comforts here,
and better hopes above:
he sent his own
eternal Son,
to die for sins
that man had done.

2 To God the Son belongs
immortal glory too,
who bought us with his blood
from everlasting woe:
and now he lives,
and now he reigns,
and sees the fruit
of all his pains.

3 To God the Spirit's name
immortal worship give,
whose new-creating power
makes the dead sinner live:
his work completes
the great design,
and fills the soul
with joy divine.

4 Almighty God, to thee
be endless honours done,
the undivided Three,
and the mysterious One:
where reason fails
with all her powers,
there faith prevails,
and love adores.

Source: Ancient and Modern: hymns and songs for refreshing worship #278

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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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First Line:	We give immortal praise
Title:	We Give Immortal Praise
Author:	Isaac Watts (1709)
Meter:	6.6.6.6.4.4.4.4
Language:	English
Notes:	Spanish translation: See "Al Padre Dios, de amor" by Lygia Rodriguez de Falvella
Copyright:	Public Domain

Year A, Easter season, Second Sunday

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Notes

I give immortal praise. I. Watts, [Praise. A Doxology.] Appeared in his Hymns & Spiritual Songs, 2nd ed., 1709, Bk. iii., No. 38, in 4 stanzas of 8 lines, and entitled, “Song of Praise to the Blessed Trinity." In its original form it is not often found; but as "We give immortal praise," it is in common use in all English-speaking countries. This slightly altered text was given in G. Whitefield's Psalms & Hymns 1753; in M. Madan's Psalms & Hymns, 1760; in A. M. Toplady's Psalms & Hymns, 1776, and others to modern hymn-books. In Kennedy, it is recast as "To God the Father yield," but this form is in limited use.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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