1 In thee, great God, with songs of praise,
Our favour'd realms rejoice:
And, blest with thy salvation, raise
To heav'n their cheerful voice.
2 Thy sure defence, thro' nations round,
Hath spread our rising name,
And all our feeble efforts crown'd
With freedom and with fame.
3 In deep distress our injur'd land
Implor'd thy pow'r to save;
for life we pray'd; thy bounteous hand
The timely blessing gave.
4 Thy mighty arm, eternal Pow'r,
Oppos'd their deadly aim,
In mercy swept them from our shore,
and spread their rails with shame.
5 On thee, in want, in woe or pain,
Our hearts alone rely;
Our rights thy mercy will maintain,
And all our wants supply.
6 Thus, Lord, thy wond'rous pow'r declare;
And still exalt thy fame;
While we glad songs of praise prepare,
For thine Almighty name.
Source: Church Hymn Book: consisting of newly composed hymns with the addition of hymns and psalms, from other authors, carefully adapted for the use of public worship, and many other occasions (1st ed.) #P.XXI
First Line: | In thee, great God, with songs of praise |
Title: | National Blessings Acknowledged |
Author (sts. 2-5): | Joel Barlow |
Author (sts. 1, 6): | Isaac Watts |
Meter: | 8.6.8.6 |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Barlow, Joel, born at Reading, Connecticut, 1755, graduated at Yale 1778, and died near Cracow, Poland, 1812, In 1785, at the request of the (Congregational) General Association of Connecticut, he corrected and enlarged Dr. Watts's Psalms, supplying those omitted by Watts, and adapting the whole to American thought and circumstances. This work, published in 1786, went through various editions, and, although officially superseded by Dwight in 1800, it continued to be issued for many years after. Its title is somewhat curious as setting forth its design. It reads:— Psalms carefully suited to the Christian Worship in the United States of America, being Dr. Watts’ Imitation of the Psalms of David, as improved by Mr. Barlow. Of his renderings of the Psalms, there are still in common use:—
In Thee, great God, with songs of praise. National Hymn. It is No. 962 in N. Adams's Church Pastorals, Boston, 1804. [Rev. F. M. Bird, M.A.]
-- Excerpt from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)