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Hymnals of the Stone-Campbell Movement

Enos E. Dowling Hymnal Collection

Hymn: Father of spirits nature's God (FL)

Hymnal: New Christian Hymn and Tune Book

Date: 1882

Compiler: Fillmore Brothers

Publisher/Printer: Fillmore Brothers

First Line: Father of spirits nature's God

Topic: God/Omnipresence

Writer: John Bowring

Composer: W Monk

Meter: LM

Tune: Hursley

Hymn Number: 170

Page Number: 059, click to see hymnal pages

Lyics

FATHER of spirits, nature's God,

Our inmost thoughts are known to thee;

Thou, Lord, canst hear each idle word,

And every private action see.



Could we on morning's swiftest wings,

Pursue our flight through trackless air,

Or dive beneath deep ocean's springs,

Thy presence still would meet us there.



In vain may guilt attempt to fly,

Concealed beneath the pall of night;

One glance from thy all-piercing eye

Can kindle darkness into light.



Search thou our hearts, and there destroy

Each evil thought, each secret sin,

And fit us for those realms of joy,

Where naught impure shall enter in.