Scripture Verse

Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? Jeremiah 23:24

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bu­rton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 12, alt. God’s Uni­ver­sal Pre­sence.

Music: Rest (Brad­bu­ry) Will­iam B. Brad­bu­ry, 1843 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

portrait
William Bradbury
(1816–1868)

Lyrics

Should hos­tile pow­ers against me join,
I have a help­er all di­vine;
To Him my soul shall quick­ly fly,
On Him my stead­fast faith re­ly.

Torn from th’embrac­es of my friends,
Exiled to earth’s re­mot­est ends;
Yet would I live de­void of fear,
Knowing that God is pre­sent there.

Weighed down with guilt, o’er­whelmed with grief,
From Him I seek and find re­lief;
When dread alarms spread all around,
In Him alone is suc­cor found.

When out­ward com­forts are with­drawn,
I am con­tent with Him alone;
No real loss can me be­fall,
For He is mine, and He is all.

He’s ev­er good, and ev­er nigh,
He lives when worlds of crea­tures die;
This glo­ri­ous God will ev­er be,
Sufficient for Him­self and me.