Hymn

The Excellency of Scripture

Anne Steele

Metre 8.6.8.6.

Father of mercies, in Thy word

What endless glory shines!

For ever be Thy name adored

For these celestial lines.

Here may the wretched sons of want

Exhaustless riches find;

Riches above what earth can grant,

And lasting as the mind.

Here the fair Tree of Knowledge grows,

And yields a free repast;

Sublimer sweets than nature knows

Invite the longing taste.

Here the Redeemer's welcome voice

Spreads heavenly peace around;

And life and everlasting joys

Attend the blissful sound.

Divine Instructor, gracious Lord,

Be Thou for ever near;

Teach me to love Thy sacred word,

And view my Saviour there.

The Excellency of Scripture — Text from Methodist Hymn and Tune Book, 1917. Public domain. https://yeshuanow.com/hymns/the-excellency-of-scripture

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Questions about this hymn

Who wrote The Excellency of Scripture?

The words of The Excellency of Scripture were written by Anne Steele; the version here was published in 1917. The library holds 47 more hymns by Anne Steele, including O could our thoughts and wishes fly and A Safe Retreat.

Is The Excellency of Scripture public domain?

Yes. The words here are taken from Methodist Hymn and Tune Book, published in 1917. Works published before 1931 are out of copyright in the United States, so you can print, project, perform and record this hymn freely. How we source and check every hymn.

What is the metre of The Excellency of Scripture?

The Excellency of Scripture is in Common Metre (8.6.8.6). Hymns in the same metre can usually be sung to the same tunes — for example, There Is a Green Hill Far Away, Delight in God and O how divine how sweet the joy.