Scripture Verse

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord; I will proclaim Your righteous deeds, Yours alone. Psalm 71:16

Introduction

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Edward Miller
1735–1807
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795), alt. Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship, ed­it­ed by R. Hall (Lon­don: Bur­ton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 31. So­ve­reign and Mys­te­ri­ous.

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

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Bed­dome (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

The King of glory deigns to stoop,
And view His works beneath the skies;
To Him all nations are a drop,
The dust that in the balance lies.

The mountains at His pesence quake,
And burning coals before Him fly;
The floods retire, the cedars break,
And rocks and hills in ruins lie.

His judgments are a boundless deep,
Beyond the reach of human sense;
Unsearchable His works and ways,
Of nature and of providence.

The angel armies, hosts of men,
But execute His just decrees;
He kills and makes alive again,
Works when and where and as He please.

The Lord of lords, and king of kings,
Through endless ages still the same;
Let Heav’n and earth His glory sing,
And all His matchless deeds proclaim.