Great Sovereign Lord – A hymn for Thanksgiving

This hymn text was written in the early 19th century by Samuel Boyce.  The text appears in “Gadsby’s Hymns”  and “A Selection of Hymns for the use of Baptist Congregations”, published in 1846, to be used as a supplement to Dr. Watts’  Psalms and Hymns.  It could be sung  very easily to the tune commonly used for “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”.

Great sovereign Lord, what human eye
Amidst thy works can rove,
And not thy liberal hand espy,
Nor trace thy bounteous love?

Each star that gilds the heavenly frame,
On earth each verdant clod,
In language loud to men proclaim
The great and bounteous God.

The lesson each revolving year
Repeats in various ways;
Rich thy provisions, Lord, appear:
The poor shall shout thy praise.

Our fruitful fields and pastures tell,
Of man and beast thy care;
The thriving corn thy breezes fill,
Thy breath perfumes the air.

But oh, what human eye can trace,
Or human heart conceive,
The greater riches of thy grace
Impoverished souls receive?

Love everlasting has not spared
Its best beloved Son;
And in him endless life prepared,
For souls by sin undone.

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