The Cyber Hymnal ‎#1352

1352. Eternal Power, Whose High Abode

1. Eternal power, whose high abode
Becomes the grandeur of a God,
Infinite lengths beyond the bounds
Where stars resolve their little rounds!

2. The lowest step around Thy seat,
Rises too high for Gabriel’s feet;
In vain the favored angel tries
To reach Thine height with wond’ring eyes.

3. There while the first archangel sings,
He hides his face behind his wings,
And ranks of shining thrones around
Fall worshiping, and spread the ground.

4. Lord, what shall earth and ashes do?
We would adore our maker, too;
From sin and dust to Thee we cry,
The Great, the Holy, and the High.

5. Earth from afar has heard Thy fame,
And worms have learned to lisp Thy name;
But, O! the glories of Thy mind
Leave all our soaring thoughts behind.

6. God is in Heaven, and men below;
Be short our tunes, our words be few;
A solemn reverence checks our songs,
And praise sits silent on our tongues.

Text Information

• First Line: Eternal power, whose high abode
• Title: Eternal Power, Whose High Abode
• Author: Isaac Watts (1706)
• Meter: LM
• Language: English
• Source: Horæ Lyricæ, 1706
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Dr. Beaumont gave out the lines-- "Thee, while the first archangel sings, He hides his face behind his wings." in Waltham street Chapel, Hull, on Sunday morning, January 23, 1855. It was the Sunday-school anniversary, and after some inquiry as to the schools, he went into the pulpit and gave out the second verse of the hymn with solemn feeling. As the congregation sang the second line he fell down lifeless in the pulpit. Telford, p. 48

Tune Information

• Name: ROCKINGHAM (Miller)
• Arranger: Edward Miller (1790)
• Composer: Carl P. E. Bach
• Meter: LM
• Incipit: 13421 35655 17655
• Key: E♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain