November 28, 2005

Have faith in God –
What chance, O friend, is thine!
Have faith in God –
To share the gift divine;
Have faith in God –
And in His light to shine!
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Let Us with a Gladsome Mind

John Milton, 1608-1674

    Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1.

    This hymn text of praise was written by John Milton in 1621 when he was only 15 years old. It was based on Psalm 136, a psalm that refrains each of its 26 verses with the reminder that God's love, mercy, and kindness endure forever. This hymn is one of 19 poetic versions of various psalms written by Milton. Today John Milton is best remembered as the brilliant, blind English poet who wrote the classic masterpieces Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained. He is also credited with having much influence on the later hymn writings of Isaac Watts, "the father of English hymnody," and Charles Wesley, author of 6,500 hymn texts.

Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the Lord, for He is kind.
For His mercies aye endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

Let us blaze His Name abroad,
For of gods He is the God.
For His mercies aye endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

He with all commanding might
Filled the new made world with light.
For His mercies aye endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

He hath, with a piteous eye,
Looked upon our misery.
For His mercies aye endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

He the golden tressèd sun
Caused all day his course to run.
For His mercies aye endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

Th’ horned moon to shine by night;
’Mid her spangled sisters bright.
For His mercies aye endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

All things living He doth feed,
His full hand supplies their need.
For His mercies aye endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

Let us, with a gladsome mind,
Praise the Lord, for He is kind.
For His mercies aye endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission