You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

Click here to donate to Hymnary.org I have already donated. Please don't show this to me again
Text:Forms vain without religion
Author:Dr. Watts

CCCXLV. Forms vain without religion

1 Almighty Maker, God!
How wond'rous is thy name!
Thy glories how diffus'd abroad
Thro' the creation's frame.

2 Nature in every dress
Her humble homage pays,
And finds a thousand ways t' express
Thine undissembled praise.

3 My soul would rise and sing
To her creator too,
Fain would my tongue adore my king,
And pay the worship due.

4 [But pride, that busy sin,
Spoils all that I perform,
Curs'd pride, that creeps securely in,
And swells a haughty worm.]

5 Create my soul anew,
Else all my worship's vain;
This wretched heart will ne'er be true,
Until tis form'd again.

6 Let joy and worship spend
The remnant of my days,
And to my God my soul, ascend
In sweet perfumes of praise.

Text Information
First Line: Almighty Maker, God!
Title: Forms vain without religion
Author: Dr. Watts
Meter: S. M.
Language: English
Publication Date: 1792
Topic: Worship: Public Worship; Pride lamented; Public Religion (1 more...)
Source: Dr. Watts's Lyric Poems
Notes: Public Domain.
Tune Information
(No tune information)



Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.