Great God of Nations

Representative Text

1 Great God of nations, now to Thee
Our hymn of gratitude we raise;
With humble heart and bending knee
We offer Thee our song of praise.

2 Thy Name we bless, Almighty God,
For all the kindness Thou hast shown
To this fair land the Pilgrims trod,
This land we fondly call our own.

3 Here freedom spreads her banner wide
And casts her soft and hallowed ray;
Here Thou our fathers' steps didst guide
In safety thro' their dangerous way.

4 We pray Thee let the gospel light
Thro' all our land its radiance shed;
Dispel the shades of error's night,
And heav'nly blessings round us spread.

5 Great God, preserve us in Thy fear;
In danger still our Guardian be;
O spread Thy truth's bright precepts here;
Let all the people worship Thee.

Amen.

Source: Worship and Service Hymnal: For Church, School, and Home #462

Author: Alfred A. Woodhull

Woodhull, Alfred Alexander, M.D., grandson of John Woodhull, D.D., of Freehold, New Jersey; was born March 25, 1810, educated for the medical profession, and practiced at Princeton, where he died Oct. 5, 1836. His hymn, “God of the passing year to Thee," appeared as No. 406 in the official edition of Presbyterian Psalms & Hymns, Princeton, in 1829. It has attained to extensive use in the altered form as "Great God of nations, now to Thee." Its authorship was determined by Dr. Hatfield, in his Church Hymn Book, 1872, No. 1295. It is an American National Thanksgiving hymn. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.] -- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)  Go to person page >

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The Cyber Hymnal #1756
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The A.M.E. Zion Hymnal #377

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The Cyber Hymnal #1756

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Worship and Service Hymnal #462

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