Evening Praise Sunday 11 July 2021

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious,
the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious,
Thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains
high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains
of goodness and love.

To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
in all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
we blossom and flourish
as leaves on the tree,
and wither and perish,
but nought changeth Thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render;
O help us to see
‘tis only the splendour
of light hideth Thee.

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
in light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
most blessed, most glorious,
the Ancient of Days,
almighty, victorious,
Thy great name we praise.

Nearer my God, to Thee,
nearer to Thee:
e’en though it be a cross
that raiseth me,
still all my song would be
nearer, my God, to Thee,
nearer to Thee, nearer to Thee.

Though, like the wanderer,
the sun gone down,
darkness be over me,
my rest a stone,
yet in my dreams I’d be
nearer, my God, to Thee,
nearer to Thee, nearer to Thee.

There let the way appear,
steps up to heaven;
all that Thou sendest me,
in mercy given;
angels to beckon me
nearer, my God, to Thee,
nearer to Thee, nearer to Thee.

Or, if on joyful wing
cleaving the sky,
sun, moon, and stars forgot,
upwards I fly,
still all my song shall be,
nearer, my God, to Thee,
nearer to Thee, nearer to Thee.

Meekness and majesty,
manhood and deity,
in perfect harmony,
the man who is God:
Lord of eternity
dwells in humanity,
kneels in humility
and washes our feet.

O what a mystery, meekness and majesty:
bow down and worship,
for this is your God,
this is your God!

Father’s pure radiance,
perfect in innocence,
yet learns obedience
to death on a cross:
suffering to give us life,
conquering through sacrifice;
and, as they crucify,
prays, ‘Father, forgive.’

O what a mystery, meekness and majesty:
bow down and worship,
for this is your God,
this is your God!

Wisdom unsearchable,
God the invisible,
Love indestructible
in frailty appears.
Lord of infinity;
stooping so tenderly,
lifts our humanity
to the heights of His throne.

O what a mystery, meekness and majesty:
bow down and worship,
for this is your God,
this is your God!

Tell out, my soul,
the greatness of the Lord!
Unnumbered blessings
give my spirit voice;
tender to me the promise of His word;
in God my Saviour
shall my heart rejoice.

Tell out, my soul,
the greatness of His name!
Make known His might,
the deeds His arm has done;
His mercy sure, from age to age the same;
His holy name, the Lord,
the Mighty One.

Tell out, my soul,
the greatness of His might!
Powers and dominions
lay their glory by.
Proud hearts and stubborn wills
are put to flight,
the hungry fed,
the humble lifted high.

Tell out, my soul,
the glories of His word!
Firm is His promise,
and His mercy sure.
Tell out, my soul,
the greatness of the Lord
to children’s children
and for evermore!

And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Saviour’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain?
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! how can it be
that Thou, my God, shouldst die for me!

He left His Father’s throne above –
so free, so infinite His grace –
emptied Himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam’s helpless race.
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free;
for, O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay
fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray –
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free.
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach the eternal throne,
and claim the crown,
through Christ, my own.