by Jeremiah Taylor, Bishop (1613 - 1667)
Great God, and just (A penitential hymn)
Language: English
Great God, and just! how can'st thou see, Dear God, our misery, And not in mercy set us free? Poor, miserable man! how wert thou born, Weak as the dewy jewels of the morn, Wrapp'd up in tender dust, Guarded with sins and lust, Who, like court flatterers, wait To serve themselves in thy unhappy fate! Wealth is a snare, and poverty brings in Inlets for theft, paving the way for sin; Each perfum'd vanity doth gently breathe Sin in thy soul, and whispers it to death. Our faults like ulcerated sores do go O'er the sound flesh and do corrupt that too. Lord, we are sick, spotted with sin, Thick as a crusty leper's skin; Like Naaman, bid us wash, yet let it be In streams of blood that flow from thee. Chorus Then will we sing, Touch'd by the heav'nly dove's bright wing Alleluias, psalms and praise To God the Lord of nights and days, Ever good and ever just, Ever high, whoever must Thus be sung, is still the same; Eternal praises crown his name.
Authorship:
- by Jeremiah Taylor, Bishop (1613 - 1667) [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Henry Purcell (1658/9 - 1695), "Great God, and just (A penitential hymn)", Z. 186 (1680?-3). [text verified 1 time]
Researcher for this page: Athony Burton
This text was added to the website: 2011-03-30
Line count: 28
Word count: 178