Gracious Lord, incline thine ear

Gracious Lord, incline thine ear

Author: William Hammond
Published in 68 hymnals

Full Text

1 Gracious Lord, incline thine ear,
My complaint vouchsafe to hear;
Sore distressed with guilt am I,
Give me Christ, or else I die.

2 Wealth and honor I disdain,
Earthly comforts all are vain;
Then can never satisfy,
Give me Christ, or else I die.

3 Lord deny me what thou wilt,
Only take away my guilt;
Mourning at thy feet I lie;
Give me Christ, or else I die.

4 All unholy and unclean,
I am sinful, vile and mean;
But to thee for mercy fly,
Give me Christ, or else I die.

5 Thou dost freely save the lost;
In thy grace alone I trust:
Unto thee I lift my cry,
Give me Christ, or else I die.

6 O my God, what shall I say?
Take, oh take my sins away!
Jesu's blood to me apply,
Give me Christ, or else I die.

The Christian's duty, exhibited in a series of hymns, 1791

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Author: William Hammond

Hammond, William, B.A, born at Battle, Sussex, Jan. 6, 1719, and educated at St. John's College, Cambridge. In 1743 he joined the Calvinistic Methodists; and in 1745, the Moravian Brethren. He died in London, Aug. 19, 1783, and was buried in the Moravian burial-ground, Sloane Street, Chelsea. He left an Autobiography in Greek, which remains unpublished. His original hymns, together with his translations from the Latin, were published in his:— Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs. To which is prefix'd A Preface, giving some Account of a Weak Faith, and a Full Assurance of Faith; and briefly stating the Doctrine of Sanctification; and shewing a Christian's Completeness, Perfection, and Happiness in Christ. By William Hammond, A.B., late of… Go to person page >

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Text Information

First Line: Gracious Lord, incline thine ear
Author: William Hammond
Language: English
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Notes

Gracious Lord, incline Thine ear. W. Hammond. [Christ desired.] First published in his Psalms & Hymns, 1745, p. 258, in 10 stanzas of 4 lines, and headed "I am sick of love. Cant. ii. 5," the opening stanza reading: —

“Gracious Lord, incline Thine Ear,
My Complaint vouchsafe to hear;
Faint and Sick of Love am I,
Give me Christ, or else I die."

In 1787 Dr. Rippon, on including the hymn in his Baptist Selection, No. 296, omitted stanzas ii., vii. and ix., and re-wrote stanza i., thus:—

"Gracious Lord, incline Thine ear,
My request vouchsafe to hear;
Hear my never-ceasing cry;—
Give me Christ, or else I die."

This form of the hymn is in use amongst the Baptists, both in England and America. Another form in 6 stanzas (omitting stanzas ii., vi., vii., ix. was given in Bickersteth's Christian Psalmody,1833, No. 644, with stanza i. as:—

“Gracious Lord, incline Thine ear,
My request vouchsafe to hear;
Burden'd with my sins I cry,
Give me Christ, or else I die."

This form of the hymn is in limited use in the Church of England.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Instances

Instances (68)TextImageAudioScore
A Collection of Evangelical Hymns; made from Different Authors and Collections for the English Lutheran Church in New York #d84
A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ: taken from the most approved authors, and adapted to public and private worship #265Image
A Collection of Spiritual Hymns: adapted to the Various Kinds of Christian Worship, and especially designed for the use of the Brethren in Christ. 2nd ed. #667Image
A New and Beautiful Collection of Select Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d104
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 #266Image
A New Selection of Nearly Eight Hundred Evangelical Hymns, from More than 200 Authors in England, Scotland, Ireland, & America, including a great number of originals, alphabetically arranged #467Image
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) #698Image
A New Selection of Seven Hundred Evangelical Hymns ... intended as a Supplement to Dr. Watts's Psalms and Tunes #467Image
A Prayer Meeting and Revival Hymn Book . 27th ed. #d151
A Prayer Meeting and Revival Hymn Book. 5th ed. #d98
A Selection of Hymns, adapted to the devotions of the closet, the family, and the social circle; and containing subjects appropriate to the monthly concerns of prayer for the success... #199Image
A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs #d76
A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs: designed (especially the former part) for the use of congregations as an appendix to Dr. Watt's Psalms and Hymn #S.XVIImage
A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs from the Best Authors #d71
A Selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs: in two parts, part I. containing the hymns; part II. containing the songs...(3rd ed. corr. and enl. by author) #S.XVIImage
A Selection of Hymns, from the Best Authors #84Image
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.) #296aImage
A Selection of Hymns & Psalms: from the most approved authors: principally from Watts & Rippon: together with originals #220Image
A Selection of Psalms and Hymns: done under appointment of the Philadelphian Association (2nd ed) #288Image
A Selection of Psalms and Hymns: done under the appointment of the Philadelphian Association (4th ed.) #288Image
A Selection of Psalms and Hymns: done under the appointment of the Philadelphian Association #CCLXXXVIIIImage
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) #92Image
Conference Hymns. a new collection of hymns, designed especially for use in conference and prayer meetings, and family worship. #248Image
Cottage Melodies; a hymn and tune book, for prayer and social meetings and the home circle #107Image
Dupuy's Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Rev. corr. and enl.) #S63Image
Evangelical Hymns: for private, family, social, and public worship; selected from various authors (3rd ed. enl.) #184Image
Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the Use of Christians. 8th ed. #d63
Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians. 9th ed. #d65
Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Selected and Original. 7th ed. #d146
Hymns and Spiritual Songs, selected from Several Approved Authors, Recommended by the Baptist General Committee of Virginia #d60
Hymns for the Sanctuary and Social Worship: with tunes #510Image
Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship #281Image
Hymns, Selected and Original, for Public and Private Worship (1st ed.) #281Image
Hymns: selected and original, for public and private worship (30th ed.) #281Image
Revival Hymns #d54
Revival Hymns. 4th ed. #d33
Revival Hymns ... with a Supplement. 2nd ed. #d87
Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors, intended to be an Appendix to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns. (1st Am. ed.) #CCXCVIImage
The Advent Harp; designed for believers in the speedy coming of Christ #52Image
The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book, for Public Worship #137.399Image
The Baptist Hymn and Tune Book for Public Worship #399Image
The Baptist Hymn Book #399Image
The Baptist Hymn Book: original and selected: in two parts #729Image
The Baptist Psalmody: a selection of hymns for the worship of God #462Image
The Canadian Baptist Hymn Book #327Image
The Christian Harmonist: containing a set of tunes adapted to all the metres in Mr. Rippon's Selection of Hymns, in the collection of hymns by Mr. Joshua Smith, and in Dr. Watt's Psalms and Hymns... #143Image
The Christian Hymn Book #d203
The Christian Hymn Book. 7th ed. #d205
The Christian Hymn-Book (Corr. and Enl., 3rd. ed.) #53Image
The Christian Hymn Book (Ohio Auglaize Christian Conference) #d87
The Christian Lyre #d117
The Christian Psalmist: being a collection of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs compiled from the most approved authors, and designed as a standard hymn book for public and social worship #S78Image
The Christians Duty, exhibited, in a series of Hymns: collected from various authors, designed for the worship of God, and for the edification of Christians (1st Ed.) #XCIITextImage
The 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 (2nd ed.) #XCIIImage
The Church Hymn Book #d305
The Jubilee Harp: a choice selection of psalmody, ancient and modern, designed for use in public and social worship #363Image
The New and Most Complete Collection of Camp, Social and Prayer Meeting Hymns and Spiritual Songs Now in Use #71Image
The Praise Offering: Designed Expressly for Prayer, Experience, Revival and Camp Meetings. #27Image
The Psalmist: a new collection of hymns for the use of Baptist churches; with a supplement #S44Image
The Psalms and Hymns of Dr. Watts #1014aImage
The Sacred Lute #d111
The Sacred Songster. 5th ed. #d62
The Soldier's Hymn Book. 2nd ed. #d74
The Zion Songster: a Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, generally sung at camp and prayer meetings, and in revivals of religion (Rev. & corr.) #131Image
The Zion Songster: a Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Generally Sung at Camp and Prayer Meetings, and in Revivals or Religion (95th ed.) #131Image
Zion's Harp ... Sacred Songs Not Found in the Methodist Hymn Book and Many Never Before Published with Several Original Pieces #d92
Zion's Songster; or a Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Usually Sung at Camp Meetings, and Also in Revivals of Religion #d75
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.) #20Image
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