Scripture Verse

…teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

Introduction

Words: Phi­lip Dodd­ridge (1702–1751). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Found­ed on Va­ri­ous Texts in the Ho­ly Scrip­tures, by Job Or­ton (Shrop­shire, Eng­land: Jo­shua Ed­dowes & John Cot­ton, 1755), num­ber 69: Sing­ing in the ways of God.

Music: State Street Jo­na­than C. Wood­man, 1844 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

portrait
Philip Doddridge (1702–1751)

Lyrics

Now let our voices join,
To form one pleasant song,
Ye pilgrims in Je­ho­vah’s ways,
With music pass along.

How straight the path appears,
How open, and how fair!
No lurking sins t’entrap our feet,
No fierce destroyer there.

But flowers of paradise
In rich profusion spring;
The Sun of Glory gilds the path,
And dear companions sing.

See Salem’s golden spires
In beauteous prospect rise;
And brighter crowns than mortals wear,
Which sparkle through the skies.

All honor to His name,
Who drew the shining trace,
To Him, who leads the wanderers on,
And cheers them with His grace.

Reduce the nations, Lord,
Teach all their kings Thy ways,
That earth’s full choir the notes may swell,
And Heav’n resound the praise.