Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will.
Psalm 103:21
Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for Times of Trouble and Persecution (London: Strahan, 1744), page 43, alt.
Music: Lyons, attributed to Johann M. Haydn (1737–1806). Arranged by William Gardiner, Sacred Melodies (London: 1815) (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tunes:
The year 1744 was a time of great opposition to, and persecution of, the Methodists in England. The country was at war with France. An invasion for the purpose of dethroning George II, and crowning the exiled representative of the House of Stuart was expected.
The Methodists were represented as Papists in disguise, working for the Pretender. Their meetings were broken up by mobs, and many of their preachers were impressed into the army. Even the Wesleys were brought before the magistrates for examination.
In the midst of these persecutions they published a pamphlet containing thirty-three pieces and entitled Hymns for Times of Trouble and Persecution, 1744. This hymn was first published in that pamphlet.
Nutter, p. 10
Ye servants of God, your master proclaim,
And publish abroad His wonderful name;
The name all victorious of Jesus extol,
His kingdom is glorious and rules over all.
The waves of the sea have lifted their voice,
Sore troubled that we in Jesus rejoice;
The floods they are roaring, but Jesus is here;
While we are adoring, He always is near.
Men, devils engage, the billows arise,
And horribly rage, and threaten the skies:
Their fury shall never our steadfastness shock,
The weakest believer is built on a rock.
God ruleth on high, almighty to save,
And still He is nigh, His presence we have;
The great congregation His triumph shall sing,
Ascribing salvation to Jesus our king.
Salvation to God, who sits on the throne,
Let all cry aloud and honor the Son!
The praises of Jesus the angels proclaim,
Fall down on their faces and worship the Lamb.
Then let us adore, and give Him His right,
All glory and power, and wisdom and might;
All honor and blessing, with angels above,
And thanks never ceasing, and infinite love.