Jehovah-Shammah

As birds their infant brood protect

Author: William Cowper
Tune: MAINZER
Published in 26 hymnals

Full Text

1 As birds their infant brood protect
And spread their wings to shelter them;
Thus saith the Lord to his elect,
"So shall I guard Jerusalem."

2 And what then is Jerusalem,
This darling object of his care?
Where is its worth in God's esteem?
Who built it?--who inhabits there?

3 Jehovah founded it in blood,
The blood of his incarnate Son;
There dwell the saints, once foes to God
The sinners whom he calls his own.

4 There, though besieged on every side,
Yet much beloved and guarded well;
From age to age they have defied
The utmost force of earth and hell.

5 Let earth repent, and hell despair,
This city hath a sure defense;
Her name is called "The Lord is there,"
And who has power to drive them thence.

A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 1st ed., 1816

Author: William Cowper

Cowper, William, the poet. The leading events in the life of Cowper are: born in his father's rectory, Berkhampstead, Nov. 26, 1731; educated at Westminster; called to the Bar, 1754; madness, 1763; residence at Huntingdon, 1765; removal to Olney, 1768; to Weston, 1786 ; to East Dereham, 1795; death there, April 25,1800. The simple life of Cowper, marked chiefly by its innocent recreations and tender friendships, was in reality a tragedy. His mother, whom he commemorated in the exquisite M Lines on her picture," a vivid delineation of his childhood, written in his 60th year, died when he was six years old. At his first school he was profoundly wretched, but happier at Westminster; excelling at cricket and football, and numbering Warren Hast… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: As birds their infant brood protect
Title: Jehovah-Shammah
Author: William Cowper
Language: English

Notes

As birds their infant brood protect. W. Cowper. [Divine Protection.] Appeared in the Olney Hymns, 1779, Bk. i. No. 72, in 5 stanzas of 4 lines. It is based on Ezek. xlviii. 35. It is found in several of the older hymnals, including Cotterill’s, 1810 to 1819, Bickersteth’s, 1833, and others, but its modern use is confined mainly to America.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Timeline

Instances

Instances (26)TextImageAudioScore
A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. (New and Rev. ed.) #1120Image
A Collection of Hymns, for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. New and Revised ed. #730Image
A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. Rev. ed. #d38
A New Selection of Hymns; designed for the use of conference meetings, private circles, and congregations, as a supplement to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns #399Image
A New Selection of Psalms and Hymns from the Most Approved Authors, Adapted to Public and Private Worship. 2nd ed. #d39
A Selection of Hymns #d14
A Selection of Hymns, from the Best Authors, Designed as a Supplement to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns #d31
A Selection of Hymns, from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 1st ed. #VIITextImage
A Selection of Hymns from Various Authors, Supplementary for the Use of Christians. 2nd ed. #d7
Choice Hymns: for social and private devotion, Lord's Day schools and revivals. (2nd ed.) #11Image
Christian Psalmody, in Four Parts; containing Dr. Watt's Psalms Abridged; Dr. Watt's Hymns Abridged; Select Hymns from Other Authors; and Select Harmony: together with directions... (2nd. ed.) #SH178Image
Christian's Duty, exhibited in a series of hymns: collected from various authors, designed for the worship of God, and for the edification of Christians, recommended to the serious..(4th ed. improved) #S7TextImage
Church Pastorals, hymns and tunes for public and social worship #677Image
Hymns and Offices of Worship: for use in schools: with an appendix of tunes #202Image
Hymns of the Church Militant #33aImage
Offices of Worship and Hymns: principally for use in schools. with an appendix of tunes (2nd and rev. ed.) #202Image
Select Hymns: the third part of Christian Psalmody; with directions for musical expression (Stereotype ed.) #178Image
Supplement to Watts: a Selection of More than Five Hundred Hymns, from the Most Approved Authors on a Great Variety of Subjects ... #d29
The Baptist Hymn Book: comprising a large and choice collection of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, adapted to the faith and order of the Old School, or Primitive Baptists (2nd stereotype Ed.) #463Image
The Baptist Hymn Book: original and selected: in two parts #535Image
The Boston Collection of Sacred and Devotional Hymns: intended to accommodate Christians on special and stated occasions #124Image
The Christian Melodist: a new collection of hymns for social religious worship #318Image
The Congregational Hymn Book: for the service of the sanctuary #727Image
The Liturgy and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum #614Image
The Lord's Songs: a collection of composures in metre, such as have been most used in the late glorious revivals; Dr. Watts' psalms and hymns excepted #CLXXXVImage
The Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs of the Rev. Isaac Watts, D. D.: to which are added select hymns, from other authors; and directions for musical expression (New ed.) #D178Image