1. As the dew from heav’n distilling
Gently on the grass descends
And revives it, thus fulfilling
What thy providence intends,
2. Let thy doctrine, Lord, so gracious,
Thus descending from above,
Blest by thee, prove efficacious
To fulfill thy work of love.
3. Lord, behold this congregation;
Precious promises fulfill.
From thy holy habitation
Let the dews of life distill.
4. Let our cry come up before thee.
Thy sweet Spirit shed around,
So the people shall adore thee
And confess the joyful sound.
Source: Hymns of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints #149
First Line: | As the dew from heaven distilling Gently on the grass descends |
Title: | As the Dew from Heaven Distilling |
Author: | Thomas Kelly |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
As the dew from heaven distilling. T. Kelly. [Divine Worship.] This hymn is given in the collections in two forms:—(1.) The original, which was published by Kelly in the first edition of his Hymns, &c, 1804, p. 98, hy. xci., in 2 stanzas of 8 lines, and based upon Deut. xxxii. 2. For some reason, not accounted for, Kelly omitted it from all subsequent editions of his Hymns, &c. The original text, however, is retained in the Baptist Psalms & Hymns 1858 and 1880, No. 812. In P. Maurice's Choral Hymn Book, 1861, it is attributed to "Gwyther," in error. (2.) The second form is that given to it by J. Bulmer, in his Hymns Original and Select, 1835, Bk. iii., No. 176. It is found in modem editions of Rippon's Selection in Snepp's Songs of Grace & Glory, and others, and can be detected at once by the third line of stanza i., reading "Richly unto all fulfilling," for the original "And revives it, thus fulfilling." In this form the ascription is "T. Kelly, 1804, J. Bulmer, 1835." [William T. Brooke]
-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
Thomas Kelly's poem was first published in "Collection of Sacred Hymns" by Parley Parker Pratt, Brigham Young and John Taylor, and has been part of LDS hymnals since then.
--Dianne Shapiro