Nature With Open Volume Stands

Representative Text

1 Nature with open volume stands
to spread her Maker's praise abroad,
and every labour of his hands
shows something worthy of our God.

2 But in the grace that rescued man
his brightest form of glory shines;
here on the cross 'tis fairest drawn
in precious blood and crimson lines.

3 Here his whole name appears complete;
nor wit can guess, nor reason prove
which of the letters best is writ,
the power, the wisdom, or the love.

4 O the sweet wonders of that cross
where God the Saviour loved and died;
her noblest life my spirit draws
from his dear wounds and bleeding side.

5 I would for ever speak his name
in sounds to mortal ears unknown,
with angels join to praise the Lamb,
and worship at his Father's throne.

Source: Ancient and Modern: hymns and songs for refreshing worship #179

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 >

Tune

ELTHAM (Gawthorn)


NURNBERG


HAMBURG

Lowell Mason (PHH 96) composed HAMBURG (named after the German city) in 1824. The tune was published in the 1825 edition of Mason's Handel and Haydn Society Collection of Church Music. Mason indicated that the tune was based on a chant in the first Gregorian tone. HAMBURG is a very simple tune with…

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #4491
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
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Instances

Instances (1 - 19 of 19)

A New Hymnal for Colleges and Schools #34

Text

Ancient and Modern #179

Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #232

TextAudio

Common Praise #113

Text

CPWI Hymnal #121

TextPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #299

Hymnal Supplement II #37

Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition #497

Hymns and Psalms #174a

Hymns and Psalms #174b

TextPage Scan

Rejoice in the Lord #294

TextPage Scan

Rejoice in the Lord #295

TextPage Scan

Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #94

Audio

Small Church Music #6976

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #4491

TextPage Scan

The Hymnal 1982 #434

Text

The New English Hymnal #87

TextPage Scan

The Worshiping Church #222

Text

Together in Song #343

Include 125 pre-1979 instances
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