Scripture Verse

Render…unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. Matthew 22:21

Introduction

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Isaac Watts (1674–1748)

Words: Is­aac Watts, Hymns and Spir­it­ual Songs 1707–09, Book 2, num­ber 149. Hon­or to ma­gis­trates; or Gov­ern­ment from God.

Music: St. Anne Will­iam Croft, 1708 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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William Croft (1678–1727)

Lyrics

Eternal so­ver­eign of the sky,
And Lord of all be­low;
We mor­tals to Thy ma­jes­ty
Our first obe­di­ence owe.

Our souls ad­ore Thy throne su­preme,
And bless Thy pro­vi­dence,
For ma­gis­trates of mean­er name,
Our glo­ry and de­fense.

The crowns of Brit­ish princ­es shine
With rays ab­ove the rest,
Where laws and li­ber­ties com­bine
To make the na­tion blessed.

Kingdoms on firm foun­da­tions stand,
While vir­tue finds re­ward;
And sin­ners per­ish from the land
By jus­tice and the sword.

Let Cæ­sar’s due be ev­er paid
To Cæ­sar and his throne;
But con­scienc­es and souls were made
To be the Lord’s alone.