To thee, O Lord, I raise my cries

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To thee, O Lord, I raise my cries

Author: Joel Barlow
Published in 21 hymnals

Representative Text

1 To thee, O Lord, I raise my cries;
My fervent pray'r in mercy hear;
For ruin waits my trembling soul,
If thou refuse a gracious ear.

2 When suppliant tow'rd thy holy hill,
I left my mournful hands to pray,
Afford thy grace, nor drive me still,
With impious hypocrites away.

3 To sons of falsehood, that despise
The works and wonders of thy reign,
Thy vengeance give the due reward,
And sinks their souls to endless pain.

4 But, ever blessed by the Lord,
Whose mercy hears my mournful voice,
My heart, that trusted in his word,
In his salvation shall rejoice.

5 Let ev'ry saint, in sore distress,
By faith approach his Saviour, God:
Then grant, O Lord, thy pard'ning grace,
And feed thy church with heav'nly food.

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.XXVIII

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Author: Joel Barlow

Barlow, Joel, born at Reading, Connecticut, 1755 [sic], graduated at Yale 1778, and died near Cracow, Poland, 1812, He was well known as an author and politician during and after the American Revolution. His publications include Hasty Pudding; Columbia, &c. 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 This work, published in 1786, went through various editions, and, although officially superseded by Dwight in 1800, it continued to be issued for many years after.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… Go to person page >

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