HYMN 26
DOXOLOGIES.
[I cannot persuade myself to put a full period to these Divine Hymns till I have addressed a special song of glory to God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Though the Latin name of it, Gloria Patri, be retained in our nation from the Roman church, and though there be some excesses of superstitious honor paid to the words of it, which may have wrought some unhappy prejudices in weaker Christians, yet I believe it still to he one of the noblest parts of Christian worship. The subject of it is the doctrine of the Trinity, which is that peculiar glory of the Divine nature that our Lord Jesus Christ has so clearly revealed unto men, and is so necessary to true Christianity. The action is praise, which is one of the most complete and exalted parts of heavenly worship. I have cast the song into a variety of forms, and have fitted it, by a plain version, or a larger paraphrase, to he sung either alone or at the conclusion of another hymn. I have added also a few Hosannahs, or ascriptions of salvation to Christ, in the same manner, and for the same end.]
L. M.
A song of praise to the ever-blessed Trinity, God the Father, Son, and Spirit.
| Blest be the Father and his love, To whose celestial source we owe Rivers of endless joy above, And rills of comfort here below. | | Glory to thee, great Son of God, From whose dear wounded body rolls A precious stream of vital blood, Pardon and life for dying souls. | | We give the sacred Spirit praise, Who in our hearts of sin and woe Makes living springs of grace arise, And into boundless glory flow. | | Thus God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit, we adore; That sea of life and love unknown, Without a bottom or a shore. | |