God Her Everlasting Light

Representative Text

1 Hear what God the Lord hath spoken:
O my people, faint and few,
Comfortless, afflicted, broken,
Fair abodes I build for you.
Thorns of heartfelt tribulation,
Shall no more perplex your ways:
You shall name your walls salvation,
And your gates shall all be praise.

2 There, like streams that feed the garden,
Pleasures without end shall flow;
For the Lord, your faith rewarding,
All His bounty shall bestow.
Still in undisturbed possession,
Peace and righteousness shall reign:
Never shall you feel oppression,
Hear the voice of war again.

3 Ye no more your suns descending,
Waning moons no more shall see;
But, your griefs for ever ended,
Find eternal noon in Me.
God shall rise, and shining o'er you,
Change to day the gloom of night;
He, the Lord, shall be your Glory,
God your everlasting Light.

Source: Church Book: for the use of Evangelical Lutheran congregations #581

Author: William Cowper

William Cowper (pronounced "Cooper"; b. Berkampstead, Hertfordshire, England, 1731; d. East Dereham, Norfolk, England, 1800) is regarded as one of the best early Romantic poets. To biographers he is also known as "mad Cowper." His literary talents produced some of the finest English hymn texts, but his chronic depression accounts for the somber tone of many of those texts. Educated to become an attorney, Cowper was called to the bar in 1754 but never practiced law. In 1763 he had the opportunity to become a clerk for the House of Lords, but the dread of the required public examination triggered his tendency to depression, and he attempted suicide. His subsequent hospitalization and friendship with Morley and Mary Unwin provided emotional st… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Hear what God the Lord hath spoken
Title: God Her Everlasting Light
Author: William Cowper
Meter: 8.7.8.7 D
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Hear what God the Lord hath spoke. W. Cowper. [The Church in Glory.] First published in the Olney Hymns, 1779, Book i., No. 65, in 3 stanzas of 8 lines, and headed, "The future peace and glory of the Church." It is in somewhat extensive use both in Great Britain and America.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907

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Hear what God the Lord hath spoken, p. 502, ii. In the manuscript volume described under Cowper, W., p. 1625, ii., this hymn, given at pp. 211-213, concludes a letter from J. Newton which is dated "Aug. 1773." See Notes and Queries, Sept. 24, 1904.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

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Instances

Instances (1 - 100 of 198)
Text

A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #192

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A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion. (10th ed.) #192

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A Collection of Hymns and a Liturgy #696

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A Collection of Hymns for the use of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in America #238

A Collection of Hymns from Various Authors. New ed. #d140

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A Collection of Hymns, for the use of the United Brethren in Christ #350

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship #261

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (10th ed.) #261

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship (6th ed.) #261

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (3rd ed.) #261

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. (45th ed.) #261

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Christian Worship. 16th ed. #261

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for Social and Private Worship #CLXXXIX

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Sanctuary #603

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns for the Use of Universalist Societies and Families 16ed. #320

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship #203

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns, for Social and Private Worship (Rev. ed. with supplement) #203

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A Collection of Psalms and Hymns #256

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A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints #122

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A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints #116

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A Select Verse System for the Use of Individuals, Families, and Schools #147

A Selection of Hymns #d114

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A Selection of Hymns and Psalms for Social and Private Worship (2nd ed. Enl. and Imp.) #136

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A Selection of Hymns and Psalms for Social and Private Worship (6th ed.) #139

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A Selection of Hymns and Psalms, for Social and Private Worship. (11th ed.) #139

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A Selection of Hymns and Psalms #136

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A Selection of Hymns for Worship (2nd ed.) #390

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A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors. #A5

A Selection of Hymns, from the Best Authors, Designed as a Supplement to Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns #d234

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #256

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A Selection of Sacred Poetry #256

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A Selection of Spiritual Songs #754

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African Methodist Episcopal hymn and tune book #281

Calvary Selection of Spiritual Songs with Music for the Church and the Choir #d319

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Christian Hymns for Public and Private Worship #906

Christian Psalms and Hymns to Aid in Public and Private Devotion #d342

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Church Book #581

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Church Book #581

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Church Choral-Book #449

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Church Harmonies #397

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Church Psalmist #452

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Church Psalmist #452

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Church Psalmist #452

Congregational Singing Book #d28

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Great Songs of the Church #83

Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home and Services for Congregational Worship. Rev. ed. #d248

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Hymn and Tune Book for the Church and the Home. (Rev. ed.) #459

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Hymn and Tune Book for Use in Old School or Primitive Baptist Churches #341

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Hymn and Tune Book, for the Church and the Home #446

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Hymn Book for Christian Worship #301

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Hymn Book for Christian Worship. 8th ed. #a301

Hymnal of the Evangelical Church. Word ed. #d243

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #777

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Hymnal of the Methodist Episcopal Church #777

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Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada #212

Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church in Canada with Accompanying Tunes #d115

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Hymnal #281

Hymns for Children and Young Persons #d182

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Hymns for Christian Devotion #978

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Hymns for Christian Devotion #978

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Hymns for Public Worship #363

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Hymns for the Christian Church, for the Use of the First Church of Christ in Boston #130

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Hymns for the Church of Christ (3rd thousand) #523

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Hymns for the Church of Christ. (6th thousand) #523

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Hymns for the Sanctuary #225

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Hymns for the Sanctuary and Social Worship #922

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Hymns for the Use of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. ed. #238

Hymns of the Ages #d43

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Hymns of the Christian Life No. 2 #318

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Hymns of the Church Militant #381

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Hymns of the Church Universal #357

Hymns of the Millennial Dawn #ad77

Hymns of the Millennial Dawn, with Music #d77

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Hymns of the Spirit #709

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Hymns of Worship #299

Hymns, Collects, Anthems and Selections #d98

Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons 3rd Am. from 9th London ed. #d89

Hymns, Selected from Various Authors, for the Use of Young Persons #d80

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In Excelsis #780

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In Excelsis #a780

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Laudes Domini #494

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Laudes Domini #945

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Laudes Domini #193

Melodies and Hymns for Divine Service in Appleton Chapel #d21

Methodist Hymn and Tune Book #d294

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Methodist Hymn-Book #665

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New Christian Hymn and Tune Book #506

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New Christian Hymn and Tune Book #506

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New Hymn and Tune book #359d

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New Hymn and Tune Book #359d

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New Manual of Praise #510

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Offices of Worship and Hymns #949

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Parish Hymns #422

Parish Psalmody #d267

Pages

Exclude 197 pre-1979 instances
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