Scripture Verse

Our Father, who art in Heaven. Matthew 6:9

Introduction

portrait
Edward Miller
1735–1807
© National Portrait Gallery

Words: Is­aac Watts, Ho­ræ Ly­ri­cæ, Book 1, 1706, pag­es 141–42.

Music: Rock­ing­ham (Mill­er) Karl P. E. Bach. Ar­ranged by Ed­ward Mill­er, 1790 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Isaac Watts
1674–1748

Dr. Beau­mont gave out the lines—

Thee, while the first archangel sings,
He hides his face behind his wings

I Wal­tham Street Cha­pel, Hull, on Sun­day morn­ing, Jan­u­a­ry 23, 1855. It was the Sun­day school an­niv­er­sa­ry, and af­ter some in­qu­iry as to the schools, he went in­to the pul­pit and gave out the sec­ond verse of the hymn with sol­emn feel­ing. As the con­gre­ga­tion sang the sec­ond line he fell down lifele­ss in the pulpit.

Telford, p. 48

Lyrics

Eternal power, whose high abode
Becomes the grandeur of a God,
Infinite lengths beyond the bounds
Where stars resolve their little rounds.

The lowest step around Thy seat,
Rises too high for Gabriel’s feet;
In vain the tall archangel tries
To reach Thine height with wondering eyes.

Thy dazzling beauties whilst he sings,
He hides his face behind his wings,
And ranks of shining thrones around
Fall worshiping, and spread the ground.

Lord, what shall earth and ashes do?
We would adore our maker, too;
From sin and dust to Thee we cry,
The Great, the Holy, and the High!

Earth from afar has heard Thy fame,
And worms have learned to lisp Thy name;
But, O! the glories of Thy mind
Leave all our soaring thoughts behind.

God is in Heaven, and men below;
Be short our tunes, our words be few;
A sacred reverence checks our songs,
And praise sits silent on our tongues.