Scripture Verse

Praise…His glorious grace. Ephesians 1:6

Introduction

portrait
Alexander R. Reinagle (1799–1877)

Words: Is­aac Watts, The Psalms of Da­vid 1719. Abound­ing com­pas­sion of God; or, mer­cy in the midst of jud­gment.

Music: Ben Rhy­dding Al­ex­an­der R. Rei­na­gle, in W. Reid’s The Praise Book, 1866 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Lyrics

My soul, repeat His praise,
Whose mercies are so great;
Whose anger is so slow to rise,
So rea­dy to abate.

God will not always chide;
And when His strokes are felt,
His strokes are fewer than our crimes,
And lighter than our guilt.

High as the heav’ns are raised,
Above the ground we tread,
So far the riches of His grace
Our highest thoughts exceed.

His power subdues our sins;
And His forgiving love
Far as the east is from the west,
Doth all our guilt remove.

The pity of the Lord,
To those that fear His name,
Is such as tender parents feel;
He knows our feeble frame.

He knows we are but dust,
Scattered with every breath;
His anger like a rising wind
Can send us swift to death.

Our days as are the grass,
Or like the morning flower;
If one sharp blast sweep o’er the field
It withers in an hour.

But Thy compassions, Lord,
To endless years endure;
And children’s children ever find
Thy words of promise sure.