Scripture Verse

I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment. Genesis 18:19

Introduction

portrait
Philip Doddridge
1702–1751

Words: Phi­lip Dodd­ridge (1702–1751). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Found­ed on Va­ri­ous Texts in the Ho­ly Scrip­tures, by Job Or­ton (Shrop­shire, Eng­land: Jo­shua Ed­dowes & John Cot­ton, 1755), num­ber 2: God’s gra­cious ap­pro­ba­tion of a re­li­gious care of our fam­i­lies.

Music: Mar­y­ton H. Per­cy Smith, in Church Hymns with Tunes (Lon­don: 1874) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Smith (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

Lyrics

Father of men, Thy care we bless,
Which crowns our families with peace:
From Thee they spring, and by Thy hand
Their root, and branches are sustained.

To God, most worthy to be praised,
Be our domestic altars raised;
Who, Lord of Heaven, scorns not to dwell
With saints, in their obscurest cell.

To Thee may each united house
Morning, and night, present its vows;
Our servants there, and rising race
Be taught Thy precepts, and Thy grace.

O may each future age proclaim
The honors of Thy glorious name,
While pleased, and thankful, we remove
To join the family above.