Bellingham (William Billings)

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CPDL #32779:  Icon_pdf.gif 
Editor: Barry Johnston (submitted 2014-08-25).   Score information: Letter, 2 pages, 50 kB   Copyright: Public Domain
Edition notes: Oval-note edition.

General Information

Title: Bellingham
Composer: William Billings
Lyricist: Isaac Watts

Number of voices: 4vv   Voicing: SATB

Genre: SacredHymn   Meter: 86. 86. D (C.M.D.)

Language: English
Instruments: A cappella

Published: 1794

Description: Transcribed from The Continental Harmony, 1794. Words by Isaac Watts, his Hymn 69.

External websites:

Original text and translations

English.png English text

Begin, my tongue, some heavenly theme,
And speak some boundless thing;
The mighty works, or mightier name,
Of our eternal King.

Tell of his wondrous faithfulness,
And sound his power abroad;
Sing the sweet promise of his grace,
And the performing God.

He that can dash whole worlds to death,
And make them when he please,
He speaks, and that almighty breath
Fulfils his great decrees.

His very word of grace is strong
As that which built the skies,
The voice that rolls the stars along
Speaks all the promises.

O might I hear thine heavenly tongue
But whisper, "Thou art mine!"
Those gentle words should raise my song
To notes almost divine.

How would my leaping heart rejoice,
And think my heaven secure!
I trust the all-creating voice,
And faith desires no more.