Friend of the friendless

God of my life, to Thee I call

Author: William Cowper
Published in 146 hymnals

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Full Text

1 God of my life, to Thee I call;
Afflicted, at Thy feet I fall;
When the great water-floods prevail,
Leave not my trembling heart to fail.

2 Friend of the friendless and the faint,
Where should I lodge my deep complaint?
Where but with Thee, whose open door
Invites the helpless and the poor?

3 Did ever mourner plead with Thee.
And Thou refuse that mourner's plea?
Does not the word still fixed remain,
That none shall seek Thy face in vain?

4 That were a grief I could not bear,
Didst Thou not hear and answer prayer;
But a prayer-hearing, answering God
Supports me under every load.

5 Poor though I am, despised, forgot,
Yet God, my God, forgets me not;
And He is safe, and must succeed,
For whom the Lord vouchsafes to plead.

Amen.

Source: The Hymnal: published by the Authority of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. #647

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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 >

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Text Information

First Line: God of my life, to Thee I call
Title: Friend of the friendless
Author: William Cowper
Language: English
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Notes

God of my life, to Thee I call. W. Cowper. [Divine aid implored.] Published in the Olney Hymns, 1779, Book iii., No. 19, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines, headed, "Looking upwards in a storm," and signed "C." In the American Presbyterian Psalms and Hymns for the Worship of God, Richmond, 1867, No. 373, stanza ii.-iv., are given as, "Friend of the friendless and the faint"; but ascribed to "Newton," in error. In the Church Praise Book, N. Y., 1882, the same arrangement, with the addition of stanza vi., is .given as No. 467. The Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Hymns, 1852, "God of our life, to Thee we call," is composed of stanzas i., ii., of this hymn, somewhat altered, and a third stanza from another source. In the Anglican Hymn Book, 1868, this hymn is again altered to, "My God, my Life, to Thee I call."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Tune

ROCKINGHAM (Miller)

Edward Miller (b. Norwich, England, 1735; d. Doncaster, Yorkshire, England, 1807) adapted ROCKINGHAM from an earlier tune, TUNEBRIDGE, which had been published in Aaron Williams's A Second Supplement to Psalmody in Miniature (c. 1780). ROCKINGHAM has long associations in Great Britain and North Amer…

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HOLLEY


LOUVAN


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Instances

Instances (146)TextImageAudioScore
A Baptist Hymn Book, Designed Especially for the Regular Baptist Church and All Lovers of Truth #d234
A Choice Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians #474Image
A Church Hymn Book: for the use of congregations of the United Church of England and Ireland #241Image
A Church of England Hymn Book #560
A Collection of Divine Hymns from Various Authors #d17
A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. (New and Rev. ed.) #546Image
A Collection of Hymns, for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. New and Revised ed. #648Image
A Collection of Hymns for the Use of the Protestant Church of the United Brethren. Rev. ed. #d185
A Collection of Hymns from Various Authors. New ed. #d114
A Collection of Hymns: Supplementary to the Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #315Image
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 #339Image
A New Selection of Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs: from the best authors; designed for the use of conference meetings, private circles, and congregations (21st ed. with an appendix) #885Image
A Selection of Hymns for the use of social religious meetings, and for private devotions 2d ed. #78Image
A Selection of Hymns....3d ed #d80
A Selection of Hymns for the Use of Social Religious Meetings and for Private Devotions. 7th ed. #388Image
A Selection of Hymns, from the Best Authors, Designed as a Supplement to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns #d188
A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors.: including a great number of originals: intended to be an appendix to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Hymns. (Woodward's rev. and corr. ed.; Sterotype ed.) #A24Image
Anglican Hymn Book #247
Book of Worship with Hymns and Tunes #523aImage
Book of Worship with Hymns and Tunes #523bImage
Church Book: for the use of Evangelical Lutheran congregations #480Image
Church Hymnal #52Image
Church Hymns with Tunes #258
Church Hymns with Tunes #288
Church Psalmist: or Psalms and Hymns Designed for the Public, Social, and Private Use of Evangelical Christians ... with Supplement. 53rd ed. #758Image
Church Psalmist: or, psalms and hymns, for the public, social and private use of Evangelical Christians. With Supplement. (50th ed.) #758Image
Compilation of Hymns for the Use of the Churches of the Christian Union #d220
Evangelical Lutheran Hymn Book with Tunes #d119
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnbook (Lutheran Conference of Missouri and Other States) #d95
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnbook (Lutheran Conference of Missouri and Other States) #d102
Gloria in Excelsis #d202
Hymnal: according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America #446Text
Hymnal: according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America : Revised edition (1874) #446Image
Hymnal and Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church with Music (Gilbert & Goodrich) #446
Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book: suited to the special seasons of the Christian year, and other occasions of public worship, as well as for use in the Sunday-school...With accompanying tunes #412cImage
Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book: suited to the special seasons of the Christian year, and other occasions of public worship, as well as for use in the Sunday-school...With accompanying tunes #412bImage
Hymnal Companion to the Prayer Book: suited to the special seasons of the Christian year, and other occasions of public worship, as well as for use in the Sunday-school...With accompanying tunes #412aImage
Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #625Image
Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #625Image
Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada #196Image
Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada with Accompanying Tunes #d98
Hymnal of the Reformed Episcopal Church, adopted in General Council, Chicago, May 1879 #d83
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition #475
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Standard Edition #374
Hymns and Songs for Social and Sabbath Worship #422Image
Hymns and Songs for Social and Sabbath Worship. (Rev. ed.) #422Image
Hymns and Songs of Praise for Public and Social Worship #706Image
Hymns and Tunes for Prayer and Social Meetings #47Image
Hymns and Tunes: for those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. #376Image
Hymns for Public Worship in the Diocese of Fredericton. 2nd ed. #d64
Hymns for the Sick-Room #84bImage
Hymns for the use of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, by the Authority of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania #516Image
Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. ed. #755Image
Hymns for Use in Divine Worship ... Seventh-Day Adventists #d338
Hymns of Salvation #d38
Hymns of the Church Militant #182Image
Hymns of the Millennial Dawn, with Music: a Choice Collection of Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d158
Hymns: selected and original, for public and private worship (30th ed.) #918Image
Hymns: selected and original, for public and private worship (4th ed. 3rd rev. ed.) #956Image
Hymns: selected and original, for public and private worship (60th ed., 1st rev. ed.) #956Image
Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship, published by General Synod for the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 68th ed. (8th rev. ed.) #d252
Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons #d69
Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons 3rd Am. from 9th London ed. #d77
In Excelsis: hymns with tunes for Christian worship #597Image
New Hymn and Tune book: an Offering of Praise for the Methodist Episcopal Church #127gImage
New Hymn and Tune Book: an Offering of Praise for the Use of the African M. E. Zion Church of America #127gImage
New Union Hymns #17Image
Offices of Worship and Hymns: with tunes, 3rd ed., revised and enlarged #299Image
Plymouth Collection of Hymns and Tunes; for the use of Christian Congregations #744Image
Poems and Hymns of Dawn #64Image
Poems and Hymns of Dawn #163Image
Precious Gems No.l #150Image
Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship #d237
Psalms and Hymns Adapted to Social, Private and Public Worship in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. #d250
Select Hymns #d140
Songs for Social and Public Worship #173Image
Songs for the New Life #d184
Songs for the Sanctuary: or hymns and tunes for Christian worship #880Image
Songs for the Sanctuary: or hymns and tunes for Christian Worship #880Image
Songs for the Sanctuary: or hymns and tunes for Christian Worship #880Image
Songs for the Sanctuary, or Hymns and Tunes for Christian Worship #880
Songs for the Sanctuary; or Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Baptist Ed.) #880Image
Songs for the Sanctuary; or, Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (Words only) #880Image
Songs of the Church: or, hymns and tunes for Christian worship #1094Image
Songs of Zion #d56
Songs of Zion. 8th ed. #d42
Sursum Corda: a book of praise #581Image
Temple Melodies: a collection of about two hundred popular tunes, adapted to nearly five hundred favorite hymns, selected with special reference to public, social, and private worship #432Image
The Academic Hymnal #229Image
The Advent Harp; designed for believers in the speedy coming of Christ #51bImage
The African Methodist Episcopal Hymn and Tune Book: adapted to the doctirnes and usages of the church (6th ed.) #362Image
The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book: being "The Plymouth Collection" enlarged and adapted to the use of Baptist churches #744Image
The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book, for Public Worship #123.656Image
The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book for Public Worship #656Image
The Baptist Hymn Book #656Image
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.) #916Image
The Baptist Psalmody: a selection of hymns for the worship of God #784Image
The Book of Praise: or, Hymns for Public and Social Worship #d221
The Camp-Meeting Chorister: or, a collection of hymns and spiritual songs, for the pious of all denominations. To be sung at camp meetings, during revivals of religion, and on other occasions #51Image
The Canadian Baptist Hymn Book #454Image
The Christian Harmony: in the Seven-Syllable Character Note System. Rev. ed. #d104
The Christian Hymn Book: a compilation of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, original and selected (Rev. and enl.) #995Image
The Christian Hymnal #d210
The Christian Hymnal: a choice collection of hymns and tunes for congregational and social worship #718Image
The Christian Lyre #d116
The Christian Psalmist; or, Watts' Psalms and Hymns: with copious selections from other sources; the whole carefully revised and arranged, with directions for musical expression #563Image
The Church Hymnal: a collection of hymns from the Prayer book hymnal, Additional hymns, and Hymns ancient and modern, and Hymns for church and home. For use in Churches where licensed by the Bishop #381Image
The Church Hymnal with Canticles #446Image
The Churchman's Hymn-Book, a Collection of Hymns Old and New, for Use in the Services of the Church #d124
The Clifton Chapel Collection of "Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs": for public, social and family worship and private devotions at the Sanitarium, Clifton Springs, N. Y. #521Image
The Congregational Hymn Book: for the service of the sanctuary #568Image
The Evangelical Hymnal with Tunes #414Image
The Good Old Songs #d169
The Halifax Selection of Hymns: intended as a Supplement to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns #d148
The Harp #618Image
The Heart and Voice: or, Songs of Praise for the Sanctuary: hymn and tune book, designed for congregational singing in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for congregations generally #55bImage
The Hymnal: published by the Authority of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. #647TextImage
The Jubilee Harp: a choice selection of psalmody, ancient and modern, designed for use in public and social worship #100Image
The Lecture-Room Hymn-Book: containing the psalms and hymns of the book of common prayer, together with a choice selection of additional hymns, and an appendix of chants and tunes... #H247Image
The Liturgy and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum #493Image
The Liturgy and the Office of Worship and Hymns of the American Province of the Unitas Fratrum, or the Moravian Church #299Image
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 #CCXLVImage
The Lutheran Hymnal #534
The Presbyterian Book of Praise: approved and commended by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, with Tunes #291Image
The Presbyterian Book of Praise: approved and commended by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada; With tunes; Part I. Selections from the Psalter. Part II. The Hymnal, rev, and en. #291Image
The Reformed Church Hymnal: with tunes #414Image
The Sabbath Hymn and Tune Book, for the Service of Song in the House of the Lord #405aImage
The Sabbath Hymn Book. Baptist ed. #d307
The Sacred Songster. 5th ed. #d61
The Sacrifice of Praise. psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs designed for public worship and private devotion, with notes on the origin of hymns. #448Image
The Saints' Harp #d305
The Saints' Hymnal #d104
The Service of Song for Baptist Churches #d156
The Service of Song for Baptist Churches #d262
The Seventh-Day Adventist Hymn and Tune Book: for use in divine worship #697Image
The Singing Pilgrim #d59
The Song Book of the Salvation Army #d219
The Sweet Singer of Israel: a collection of hymns and spiritual songs, usually sung at camp, prayer, and social meetings, and revivals of religion (New ed. much enlarged) #109Image
The Union Harp #124Image
The Voice of Praise: a collection of hymns for the use of the Methodist Church #627Image
The Zion Songster: a Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, generally sung at camp and prayer meetings, and in revivals of religion (Rev. & corr.) #148Image
The Zion Songster: a Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Generally Sung at Camp and Prayer Meetings, and in Revivals or Religion (95th ed.) #148Image
Unitarian Service Book, and Hymns for Church and Home. Abridged ed. #d123
Worship in Song: a selection of hymns and tunes for the Service of the Sanctuary #519Image
Zion's Songster; or a Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Usually Sung at Camp Meetings, and Also in Revivals of Religion #d73
Zion's Songster: or, a collection of hymns and spiritual songs, usually sung at camp-meetings, and also in revivals of religion. (10th ed., imp. and enl.) #45Image
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