A HYMN BY JOSEPH ADDISON

 

 

                                      A HYMN BY JOSEPH ADDISON     

            Joseph Addison was an English poet and essayist. He was born on May 1, 1672 at Wiltshire in England,  and died on June 17, 1719 in London.

He was very poor and unrecognized before he rose to fame by a poem The Campaign. Thereafter, his claim to literary greatness rested mainly upon his essays which were frequently published in the two newspapers The Tatler (1709-1711) and The Spectator (1711-1712,1714).

Addison’s  essays and other writings were characterized by their “refined elegance, polished prose, and insightful commentary on social and political issues. “

In his famous hymn “When all thy mercies, O my God, my rising soul surveys, transported with the view, I’m lost in wonder, love, and praise.”,  he promises to God to be grateful to Him through all eternity.

Given below is the full hymn which deserves to be chanted by every human being in the world for eons to come.  

 

1. When all thy mercies, O my God,
my rising soul surveys,
transported with the view, I'm lost
in wonder, love, and praise.

2. Unnumbered comforts to my soul
thy tender care bestowed,
before my infant heart conceived
from whom those comforts flowed.

3. When in the slippery paths of youth
with heedless steps I ran,
thine arm unseen conveyed me safe,
and led me up to man.

4. Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
my daily thanks employ,
and not the least a cheerful heart
which tastes those gifts with joy.

5. Through every period of my life
thy goodness I'll pursue,
and after death in distant worlds
the glorious theme renew.

6. Through all eternity to thee,
a joyful song I'll raise;
for O, eternity's too short
to utter all thy praise.

                                    *******

G.R.Kanwal

3^rd May 2025