Now let us raise our cheerful strains
General information
Now let us raise our cheerful strains is a hymn by Anne Steele. It was published in vol. 1 of her Poems on Subjects Chiefly Devotional, 1760, under the heading 'The exalted Saviour', and was subsequently included as Hymn 147 in John Rippon's A Selection of Hymns from the Best Authors.
Settings by composers (automated)
- Thomas Clark — Now let us raise our cheerful strains English SATB
- Oliver Holden — Emulation English SATB
Text and translations
English text
1 Now let us raise our cheerful strains,
And join the blissful choir above:
There our exalted Saviour reigns,
And there they sing his wondrous love.
2 While seraphs tune th'immortal song,
Oh, may we feel the sacred flame;
And every heart, and every tongue
Adore the Saviour's glorious name!
3 Jesus, who once upon the tree
In agonizing pains expired;
Who died for rebels, yes, 'tis he!
How bright, how lovely, how admired!
4 Jesus, who died that we might live,
Died in the wretched traitor's place;
Oh! what returns can mortals give,
For such immeasurable grace!
5 Were universal nature ours,
And art with all her boasted store;
Nature and art, with all their pow'rs,
Would still confess the offerer poor!
6 Yet though for bounty so divine
We ne'er can equal honours raise,
Jesus, may all our hearts be thine,
And all our tongues proclaim thy praise!