We sing of God, the mighty source

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We sing of God, the mighty source

Author: Christopher Smart (1763)
Tune: MAGDALEN COLLEGE
Published in 35 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 We sing of God, the mighty source
of all things; the stupendous force
on which all strength depends;
from whose right arm, beneath whose eyes,
all period, power, and enterprise
commences, reigns, and ends.

2 Tell them I AM, the Lord God said,
to Moses while on earth in dread
and smitten to the heart,
at once, above, beneath, around,
all nature without voice or sound
replied, O Lord, thou art.

3 Glorious the sun in mid career;
glorious the assembled fires appear;
glorious the comet's train:
glorious the trumpet and alarm;
glorious the almighty stretched-out arm;
glorious the enraptured main:

4 Glorious, most glorious, is the crown
of him that brought salvation down
by meekness, Mary's son;
seers that stupendous truth believed,
and now the matchless deed's achieved,
determined, dared, and done.

Source: The Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #386

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Author: Christopher Smart

Smart, Christophe, M.A., was born at Shipburn, Kent, in 1722, and educated at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, where he gained the Seatonian prize for five years, four of which were in succession, (B.A. 1747.) He removed to London in 1753, and gave some attention to literature: but neglecting both his property and his constitution, he became poor and insane. He died in the King's Bench, 1771. His Poems were published in 2 vols. in 1771. From that work "Father of light conduct my feet" (Divine Guidance), and "I sing of God the mighty Source" [God the Author of All), have been taken. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) Go to person page >

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