Praise for Temporal Blessings; or, Common and Special Mercies

Representative Text

We bless you, Lord, the just, the good;
you fill our hearts with heavenly food;
you pour your blessings from the skies,
and give to each your rich supplies.

You send the sun its circuit round,
to cheer the fruits, to warm the ground;
you bid the clouds, with plenteous rain,
refresh the thirsty earth again.

You break the captive’s heavy chain,
and prisoners see your light again.
In you the poor and helpless find
a judge that’s just, a Father kind.

We'll praise your name! Your saints of grace
sing songs of joy before your face.
You are our God, by you we're blessed,
you our defense, our joy, our rest.


Source: In Melody and Songs: hymns from the Psalm versions of Isaac Watts #29

Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: We bless the Lord, the just, the good
Title: Praise for Temporal Blessings; or, Common and Special Mercies
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

OLD HUNDREDTH

This tune is likely the work of the composer named here, but has also been attributed to others as shown in the instances list below. According to the Handbook to the Baptist Hymnal (1992), Old 100th first appeared in the Genevan Psalter, and "the first half of the tune contains phrases which may ha…

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LESLIE (Hicks)


RETREAT (Hastings)


Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #7187
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
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Instances

Instances (1 - 2 of 2)
Text

In Melody and Songs #29

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #7187

Include 65 pre-1979 instances
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