Scripture Verse

Early will I seek Thee; my soul thirsteth for Thee. Psalm 63:1

Introduction

Words: Hel­en M. Will­iams, Po­ems 1786.

Music: Simp­son ar­ranged from the can­ta­ta Cru­ci­fix­ion, by Lud­wig Spohr (1784–1859) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

  • Augusta at­trib­ut­ed to Mar­tin C. H. Da­vis, 1835 (🔊 pdf nwc)
  • Brattle Street Ig­naz J. Pley­el, 1791. Ap­peared in the Brat­tle Street Col­lect­ion (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: 1810). Re-ar­ranged by Lo­well Ma­son in Car­mi­na Sac­ra, or, Bos­ton Col­lect­ion of Church Mu­sic (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: John H. Wil­kins & Ri­chard B. Car­ter, 1841), page 101 (🔊 pdf nwc)

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

portrait
Ludwig Spohr (1784–1859)

Lyrics

While Thee I seek, pro­tect­ing Pow­er,
Be my vain wish­es stilled;
And may this con­se­crat­ed hour
With bet­ter hopes be filled.

Thy love the pow­er of thought be­stowed;
To Thee my thoughts would soar:
Thy mer­cy o’er my life has flowed;
That mer­cy I adore.

In each event of life, how clear
Thy rul­ing hand I see!
Each bless­ing to my soul more dear,
Because con­ferred by Thee.

In ev­ery joy that crowns my days,
In ev­ery pain I bear,
My heart shall find de­light in praise,
Or seek re­lief in pray­er.

When glad­ness wings my fa­vored hour,
Thy love my thoughts shall fill;
Resigned, when storms of sor­row lower,
My soul shall meet Thy will.

My lift­ed eye, with­out a tear,
The ga­ther­ing storm shall see:
My stead­fast heart shall know no fear;
That heart will rest on Thee.