Christopher Smart Hymns (in the Episcopal Church Hymnal 1982)
of all things; the stupendous force
on which all strength depends;
from whose right arm, beneath whose eyes,
all period, power and enterprise
commences, reigns and ends.
Tell them I AM, the Lord God said,
to Moses while on earth in dread
and smitten to the heart,
at once, above, beneath, around,
all nature without voice or sound
replied, O Lord, thou art.
Glorious the sun in mid career;
glorious the assembled fires appear;
glorious the comet's train:
glorious the trumpet and alarm;
glorious the almighty stretched-out arm;
glorious the enraptured main:
Glorious, most glorious, is the crown
of him that brought salvation down
by meekness, Mary's son;
seers that stupendous truth believed,
and now the matchless deeds achieved,
determined, dared and done.
1 Where is this stupendous Stranger?
Prophets, shepherds, kings, advise!
Lead me to my Master's manger,
show me where my Savior lies.
2 O most Mighty, O most Holy,
far beyond the seraph’s thought,
are you then so mean and lowly
as unheeded prophets thought?
3 Oh, the magnitude of meekness!
worth from worth immortal sprung!
Oh, the strength of infant weakness,
if eternal is so young!
4 God all-bounteous, all-creative,
whom no ills from good dissuade,
is incarnate, and a native
of the very world he made.
1 Awake, arise, lift up your voice,
let Easter music swell;
rejoice in Christ, again rejoice,
and on his praises dwell.
2 Oh, with what gladness and surprise
the saints their Saviour greet;
nor will they trust their ears and eyes
but by his hands and feet:
3 those hands of liberal love indeed
in infinite degree,
those feet still free to move and bleed
for millions and for me.
4 His enemies had sealed the stone
as Pilate gave them leave,
lest dead and friendless and alone
he should their skill deceive.
5 O Dead arise! O Friendless stand
by seraphim adored!
O Solitude again command
your host from heaven restored!
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