Divine Use of Music

1 We sing to thee, whose wisdom form'd
The curious organ of the ear;
And thou who gav'st us voices, Lord,
Our grateful songs in kindness hear.

2 We'll joy in god who is the spring,
Of lawful joy and harmless mirth;
whose boundless love is fitly call'd,
The harmony of heav'n and earth.

3 Those praises, dearest, Lord, aloud,
Our humble sonnets shall rehears:
Which rightly tun'd, are rightly stil'd,
The musick of the univere.

4 And whilst we sing; we'll consecrate,
That too, too much profaned art
By off'ring up with ev'ry tongue,
In ev'ry song a flaming heart.

5 We'll hallow pleasure and redeem,
From vulgar use our precious voice
Those lips which wantonly have sung,
Shall serve our turn for nobler joys.


Source: A Selection of Psalms and Hymns: done under the appointment of the Philadelphian Association #CCLIII