Scripture Verse

The blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords. 1 Timothy 6:15

Introduction

Words: John Quarles, Di­vine Me­di­ta­tions up­on Se­ver­al Sub­jects (Lon­don: 1655). Adapt­ed by Tho­mas Dar­ling, 1857.

Music: Lei­ces­ter (Bi­shop) John Bi­shop, in A Sett of New Psalm Tunes, 1700 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Dar­ling or Bi­shop (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
John Quarles (1624–1665)

Lyrics

O King of kings, be­fore whose throne
The an­gels bow, no gift can we
Present that is in­deed our own,
Since Hea­ven and earth be­long to Thee;
Yet this our souls through grace im­part,
The of­fer­ing of a thank­ful heart.

O Je­su, set at God’s right hand,
With Thine eter­nal Fa­ther plead
For all Thy loy­al-heart­ed band,
Who still on earth Thy suc­cor need:
For them in weak­ness strength pro­vide,
And through the world their foot­steps guide.

O Ho­ly Spir­it, fount of breath,
Whose com­forts ne­ver fail nor fade,
Vouchsafe the life that knows no death,
Vouchsafe the light that knows no shade;
And grant that we may through all our days
May share Thy gifts, and sing Thy praise.