The Divine Glories Above Our Reason

Representative Text

1 How wondrous great, how glorious bright
must our Creator be,
who dwells amidst the dazzling light
of vast eternity.

2 Our soaring spirits upwards rise
to reach the burning throne
and long to see the blessed Three
in the Almighty One.

3 Our reason stretches all its wings,
and climbs above the skies;
but still how far beneath thy feet
our groundling knowledge lies!

4 While all the heavenly powers conspire
eternal praise to sing,
let faith in humble notes adore
the great mysterious King.



Source: The Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #369

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: How wondrous great, how glorious bright
Title: The Divine Glories Above Our Reason
Author: Isaac Watts
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

ST. PETER (Reinagle)

Composed by Alexander R. Reinagle (b. Brighton, Sussex, England, 1799; d. Kidlington, Oxfordshire, England, 1877), ST. PETER was published as a setting for Psalm 118 in Reinagle's Psalm Tunes for the Voice and Pianoforte (c. 1836). The tune first appeared with Newton's text in Hymns Ancient and Mode…

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SHORNEY


DUNDEE (Ravenscroft)

DUNDEE first appeared in the 1615 edition of the Scottish Psalter published in Edinburgh by Andro Hart. Called a "French" tune (thus it also goes by the name of FRENCH), DUNDEE was one of that hymnal's twelve "common tunes"; that is, it was not associated with a specific psalm. In the Psalter Hymnal…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 2 of 2)

Hymnal #126

Text

The Hymnal 1982 #369

Include 39 pre-1979 instances
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