Scripture Verse

My heart standeth in awe of Thy Word. Psalm 119:161

Introduction

portrait
William Gardiner
(1770–1853)
British Museum

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Words: From the Exe­ter Col­lect­ion. Ju­li­an lists two hymns by this ti­tle: One by John Thomp­son (1783–1818), which ap­peared in Asp­land’s Col­lect­ion in 1810, & an­oth­er by Ot­ti­well He­gin­bo­thom (1744–1768) (some­times giv­en as Now Let My Soul, Eter­nal King). Ju­li­an des­cribes He­gin­bo­thom’s ver­sion as Praise of the Gos­pel, which seems to fit the words shown be­low.

If you know the au­thor,

Music: Ger­ma­ny Sac­red Me­lo­dies, by Will­iam Gar­di­ner, 1815 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

To Thee, my heart, eter­nal King,
Would now its thank­ful trib­ute bring;
To Thee its hum­ble hom­age raise
In songs of ar­dent, grate­ful, praise.

All na­ture shows Thy bound­less love,
In worlds be­low and worlds above;
But in Thy bless­èd Word I trace
The rich­er glo­ries of Thy grace.

Here what de­light­ful truths are giv’n;
Here Je­sus shows the way to Heav’n;
His name sa­lutes my list­en­ing ear,
Revives my heart, and checks my fear.

For love like this, O may our song
Through end­less years Thy praise pro­long;
And dist­ant climes Thy name ad­ore,
Till time and na­ture are no more.