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Hymnals of the Stone-Campbell Movement

Enos E. Dowling Hymnal Collection

Hymn: Greatest of beings source of life (FL)

Hymnal: The Christian Hymn Book

Date: 1865

Compiler: Alexander Campbell

Publisher/Printer: Central Book Concern

First Line: Greatest of beings source of life

Topic: God/In Creation

Writer: <no first name given> Watts

Composer:

Meter: LM

Tune:

Hymn Number: 46

Page Number: 029, click to see hymnal pages

Lyics

Greatest of beings, source of life;

Sov'reign of air, and earth, and sea!

All nature feels thy pow'r, and all 

A silent homage pay to thee.



Wak'd by thy hand, the morning sun

Pours forth to thee its earlier rays,

And spreads thy glories as it climbs;

While raptured worlds look up and praise.



The moon, to the deep shades of night,

Speaks the mild luster of thy name;

While all the stars, that cheer the scene,

Thee, the great Lord of light, proclaim.



And groves, and vales, and rocks, and hills, 

And ev'ry flower, and ev'ry tree,

Ten thousand creatures warm with life,

Have each a grateful song for thee.



But man was form'd to rise to heav'n;

And, blest with reason's clearer light,

He views his Maker through his works,

And glows with rapture at the sight.



Nor can the thousand songs that rise,

Whether from air, or earth, or sea,

So well repeat Jehovah's praise,

Or raise such sacred harmony.