Hymn 388. Praise to the Redeemer

To our Redeemer’s glorious name,

                     Awake the sacred song!

         O may his love, (immortal flame!)

                     Tune every heart and tongue.

         His love, what mortal thought can reach? 

                     What mortal tongue display?

         Imagination’s utmost stretch

                     In wonder dies away.

         Let wonder still with love unite,

                     And gratitude and joy;                                                                

         Be Jesus our supreme delight,

                     His praise our best employ.

         Jesus who left his throne on high,

                     Left the bright realms of bliss,

         And came on earth to bleed and die –                                                                              Was ever love like this?

         Dear Lord, while we adoring pay

                     Our humble thanks to thee,

         May every heart with rapture say,

                     The Saviour dy’d for me.                                                             

         O may the sweet, the blissful theme,

                     Fill every heart and tongue,

         Till strangers love thy charming name,

                     And join the sacred song.

Text: Timothy Whelan, gen. ed., Nonconformist Women Writers, 8 vols. (London: Pickering & Chatto, 2011), vol. 1, pp. 148-49; Collection of Hymns Adapted to Public Worship, no. 388 (all stanzas); Poems, 1780, vol. 1, pp. 171-72; MS, Steele Collection, STE 3/1/1 no. 94, Angus Library, Regents Park College,  Oxford.