Thus saith the first, the great command
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
General information
This is an hymn by Isaac Watts, his Hymn 116 of Book 1, published 1707.
Settings by composers (automated)
- William Billings — Scituate English SATB
Text and translations
English text
Thus saith the first, the great command,
"Let all thy inward powers unite
To love thy Maker and thy God
With utmost vigor and delight.
"Then shall thy neighbor next in place
Share thine affections and esteem,
And let thy kindness to thyself
Measure and rule thy love to him."
This is the sense that Moses spoke,
This did the prophets preach and prove;
For want of this the law is broke,
And the whole law's fulfilled by love.
But O! how base our passions are!
How cold our charity and zeal!
Lord, fill our souls with heav'nly fire,
Or we shall ne'er perform thy will.
External links
add links here