Father, who art on high

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Father, who art on high

Author: Mrs. Hemans
Published in 5 hymnals

Representative Text

Father, who art on high!
Weak is the melody
Of harp or song to reach Thy gracious ear,
Unless the heart be there,
Winging the words of prayer
With its own fervent faith, or suppliant tear.

O, let Thy spirit move
O’er those who bend in love,
Be Thou amidst them as a heavenly guest;
So shall our cry have power
To win from Thee a shower
Of healing gifts for every wounded breast.

O, let Thy breath once more
Within the soul restore
Thine own first image, Holiest and Most High!
As a clear lake is filled
With hues of heaven instilled,
Down to the depths of its calm purity.

Source: A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #40

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Author: Mrs. Hemans

Hemans, Felicia Dorothea, née Browne, was born in Liverpool, Sep. 25, 1793. In 1800, her father having suffered severe losses in business, removed with his family near to Abergele, N. Wales, where he died sometime after. In 1812 she was married to Captain Hemans, who, on retiring from the army sometime after, removed to Bronnylfa, near St. Asaph. Some years after he left his wife and children and proceeded to Italy, where he died. In 1828 Mrs. Hemans removed to Wavertree, near Liverpool, and in 1831 to Dublin, where she died May 16, 1835, and was buried in St. Ann's Church, Dawson Street, in that city. From 1808, when at 15 she published Poems, to 1834, when her Scenes & Hymns of Life appeared, she produced a great number of poems and othe… Go to person page >

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