Poems by Felicia Dorothea Browne/Hymn 1

by Felicia Hemans

For works with similar titles, see Hymn.

HYMN.

Great God! at whose "creative word,"
Arising Nature own'd her Lord;
At whose behest, from gloomy night
The earth arose in order bright!
To whom the poet swells the song,
And cherub's loftier notes belong:
To Thee be glory, honour, praise;
Great God! who canst depress or raise.

Say all ye learned, all ye wise,
What towering pillars prop the skies?
What massy chain suspends the earth?
'Tis His high power who gave it birth.
'Tis He who sends the grateful shower;
'Tis He who paints the glowing flower.
Let the loud anthem raise the strain,
While echo murmurs it again.

And ye who wander o'er the sheaf-crown'd fields,
Praise Him for all the plenty harvest yields;
Let harp and voice their swelling notes combine,
To praise all nature's God, the architect divine