Hymn 18. The Condescension of God 

      I Kings 8. 27.

 Eternal power, almighty God,

                     Who can approach thy throne?

         Accessless light is thy abode,

                     To angel-eyes unknown.

         Before the radiance of thine eye                                                   

                     The heavens no longer shine,

         And all the glories of the sky

                     Are but the shade of thine.

         Great God, and wilt thou condescend

                     To cast a look below,                                                      

         To this vile world thy notice bend,

                     These seats of sin and woe?

         But oh!  to shew thy smiling face,

                     To bring thy glories near –

         Amazing and transporting grace                                                              

                     To dwell with mortals here!

         How strange!  how awful is thy love!

                     With trembling we adore:

         Not all th’exalted minds above

                     Its wonders can explore.                                                               

         While golden harps, and angel tongues

                     Resound immortal lays,

         Great God, permit our humble songs

                     To rise and mean thy praise.   

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 1, pp. 77-78; Collection of Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, no. 18 (all stanzas); Poems, 1780, vol. 1, pp. 65-66; MS, Steele Collection, STE 3/1/1 no. 30, Angus Library, Regents Park College,  Oxford.