Hymn Friday No. 10 - The God of Abraham Praise

Cameron A. Grimes, cello
Pei-Yi Ho, organ
Today is #HymnFriday 10, and for today I selected “The God of Abraham Praise”written by Thomas Olivers. In 1770, Thomas, who was working closely with John Wesley, went and visited to the Great Synagogue in London where he heard the cantor sing the well-known Jewish hymn, “Yigdal”. Interestingly, my cello was made this same year, also in London. Anyway, John liked the tune very much, wrote an adaptation of the original Jewish hymn and published his version in 1772. I have included the text below.
Many thanks to Pei-Yi Ho (organ) for her collaborative work, and to Episcopal Church of the Epiphany for the use of the church.
Text:
The God of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of Everlasting Days,
and God of Love;
Jehovah, great I AM!
by earth and heaven confessed;
I bow and bless the sacred name
forever blest.
The great I AM has sworn;
I on this oath depend.
I shall, on eagle wings upborne,
to heaven ascend.
I shall behold God's face;
I shall God's power adore,
and sing the wonders of God's grace
forevermore.
The heavenly land I see,
with peace and plenty blest;
a land of sacred liberty,
and endless rest.
There milk and honey flow,
and oil and wine abound,
and trees of life forever grow
with mercy crowned.
The God who reigns on high
the great archangels sing,
and "Holy, holy, holy!" cry
"Almighty King!
Who was, and is, the same,
and evermore shall be:
Jehovah, Lord, the great I AM,
we worship thee!"