Eternal King, the greatest, best

Eternal King, the greatest, best

Author: Isaac Watts
Published in 8 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Eternal King! the greatest, best,
For ever glorious, ever blest;
The great I AM, Jehovah, Lord,
By seraphim and saint ador'd.

2 Exalted in perfections bright,
Too dazzlihg far for mortal sight,
Thou reign'st supreme o'er those who dwell
In heav'n above, on earth, or hell.

3 Thy creatures all on thee depend
Their beings author, and their end;
The God who made, upholds them still
And rules them by his sov'reign will.

4 Tho' cloth'd with majesty and might,
The judge of all the world does right,
In equal balance holds the scale
Where truth and equity prevail.

5 Justice, the firm foundation lays,
Of all thy laws, thy works, and ways;
Obedient souls will ever find
A God that's faithful, loving, kind.

6 But he who sins, must die accurs'd,
A God all mercy is unjust;
Curs'd is the man who dares withdraw
Obedience from thy holy law.

7 Where then great God, or how shall we
Approach thy dreadful majesty!
Thy sacred law we oft have broke,
And stand obnoxious to thy stroke.

8 But O thou holy, just, and true!
Tho' justice must have all its due,
Thou can's be just, yet justify,
The soul that doth on Christ rely.

9 O boundless wisdom, love, and pow'r!
Thy matchless mercy we adore,
That found out this amazing plan
To save thy ruin'd creature man.

10 We plead the suff'rings of thy Son,
We plead his righteousness alone;
He bore the curse, whence thou art just
In pard'ning those who were accurs'd.



Source: The Psalms of David: with hymns and spiritual songs: also, the catechism, confession of faith, and liturgy of the Reformed Church in the Netherlands #H4

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: Eternal King, the greatest, best
Author: Isaac Watts
Copyright: Public Domain

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Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)
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The Psalms of David #H4

A Collection of Hymns for Public and Private Worship approved by the Presbytery of Charleston #d42

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The Psalms and Hymns #4b

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Psalms and Hymns, for the Use of the German Reformed Church, in the United States of America. (2nd ed.) #28

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Hymns selected from various authors #16

The Church Hymn Book #d230

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