How bright these glorious Spirits shine! (Bromsgrove)

Since the tune of the Rowley prelude I just uploaded is very unfamiliar, I thought I'd do it as a hymn, which was a lot of fun to play.

It's a very rousing melody, and you could almost "get a revival goin'" with this one!

It's also a VERY HIGH HYMN, made even higher by the fact that I did it up a step to match the key of the Rowley! ;-)

The music comes from the collection, "Psalmodia Evangelica, Part II", and dates from 1789.

The text is by the great Isaac Watts (1674-1748), and is given below in full. It's a wonderful text for All Saints, and is very colorful and exciting.

The score is attached below, but I'm sorry that it does NOT have the word underlay. :-(

Pictures of a painting of Isaac Watts is also attached, as well as a photo of a statue of him.

TURN UP THE VOLUME and sing along! :-)

(One FULL VERSE of introduction.)

How bright these glorious spirits shine!
Whence all their white array?
How came they to the blissful seats
Of everlasting day?

Lo! these are they from sufferings great
Who came to realms of light;
And in the blood of Christ have washed
Those robes which shine so bright.

Now with triumphal palms they stand
Before the throne on high,
And serve the God they love amidst
The glories of the sky.

His presence fills each heart with joy,
Tunes every mouth to sing:
By day, by night, the sacred courts
With glad hosannas ring.

Hunger and thirst are felt no more,
Nor suns with scorching ray;
God is their sun, whose cheering beams
Diffuse eternal day.

The Lamb, which dwells amidst the throne
Shall over them still preside,
Feed them with nourishment divine,
And all their footsteps guide.

Midst pastures green He’ll lead His flock
Where living streams appear;
And God the Lord from every eye
Shall wipe off every tear.

To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God whom we adore,
Be glory, as it was, is now,
And shall be evermore. Amen.