Thou didst, O mighty God, exist

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Thou didst, O mighty God, exist

Author: Elizabeth Singer Rowe
Published in 26 hymnals

Representative Text

1 Thou didst, O mighty God, exist
Ere time began its race--
Before the ample elements
Filled up the void of space.

2 Before the ponderous earthly globe
In fluid air was stayed,
Before the ocean's mighty springs
Their liquid stores displayed--

3 Ere through the gloom of ancient night
The streaks of light appeared,
Before the high celestial arch
Or starry poles were reared--

4 Ere man adored, or angels knew
Or praised thy wondrous name,
Thy bliss, O sacred Spring of life,
And glory, were the same.

5 And when the pillars of the world
With sudden ruin break,
And all this vast and goodly frame
Sinks in the mighty wreck--

6 When from her orb the moon shall start,
Th' astonished sun roll back,
While all the trembling starry lamps
Their ancient course forsake--

7 Forever permanent and fixed,
From agitation free,
Unchanged in everlasting years
Shall thy existence be.

Source: The Voice of Praise: a collection of hymns for the use of the Methodist Church #36

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Author: Elizabeth Singer Rowe

Rowe, Elizabeth, née Singer, daughter of Walter Singer, an Independent Minister, was born near Frome, Somersetshire, in 1674; married in 1710 to Thomas Rowe, the poet; and died in Feb., 1737. Her works include Friendship in Death; Letters Moral and Entertaining, and Devoute exercises of the Heart (which was revised and published by Dr. Watts). Her Miscellaneous Works in Prose and Verse, which included some of her husband's poems, together with her Hymns and Versions of Psalms, was published posthumously in 1739. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)… Go to person page >

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