1 THOU, true and only God, lead'st forth
The immortal armies of the sky;
Thou laugh'st to scorn the gods of earth,
Thou thunderest, and amazed they fly.
With downcast eye the angelic choir
Appear before thy awful face;
Trembling they strike the golden lyre,
And through heaven's vault resound thy praise,
In earth, in heaven, in all thou art;
The conscious creature feels thy nod,
Whose forming hand on every part
Impressed the image of its God.
2 Thine, Lord, is wisdom, thine alone;
Justice and truth before thee stand;
Yet, nearer to thy sacred throne,
Mercy withholds thy lifted hand.
Each evening shows thy tender love,
Each rising morn thy plenteous grace
Thy wakened wrath doth slowly move,
Thy willing mercy flies apace.
To thy benign indulgent care,
Father, this light, this breath we owe;
And all we have, and all we are,
From thee, great Source of being, flow.
3 Parent of good, thy bounteous hand
Incessant blessings down distils,
And all in air, or sea, or land,
With plenteous food and gladness fills.
All things in thee live, move, and are,
Thy power infused doth all sustain;
Even those thy daily favours share
Who thankless spurn thy easy reign.
Thy sun thou bidd'st his genial ray
Alike on all impartial pour;
To all, who hate or bless thy sway,
Thou bidd'st descend the fruitful shower.
4 Yet, while at length who scorned thy might
Shall feel thee a consuming fire,
How sweet the joys, the crown how bright,
Of those who to thy love aspire!
All creatures, praise the eternal name!
Ye hosts that to his court belong,
Cherubic choirs, seraphic flames,
Awake the everlasting song!
Thrice Holy! thine the kingdom is,
The power omnipotent is thine,
And when created nature dies,
Thy never-ceasing glories shine.
Thou, True And Only God, Lead'st Forth
Thou, True And Only God, Lead'st Forth Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Charles Wesley's hymn, "Thou, True And Only God, Lead'st Forth," is a powerful declaration of divine sovereignty and majesty. It opens by presenting God as the supreme commander, leading the celestial hosts and effortlessly humbling the false deities of the world with His voice. Even the angelic beings approach His presence with profound reverence and awe, their worship resounding through the heavens. The hymn establishes God's omnipresence and creative power, asserting that His essence and image are imprinted upon all of creation, and everything exists under His conscious awareness and control.
The second stanza delves into God's inherent attributes, highlighting His unique possession of wisdom and the foundational nature of justice and truth before Him. However, a central theme emerges with the portrayal of Mercy standing closest to His throne, restraining His power. The hymn observes God's steadfast love and grace revealed daily, visible in the transition from evening to morning. It contrasts God's deliberate and slow movement towards wrath with the swift and eager inclination of His mercy. The stanza concludes by acknowledging God as the ultimate source of all life, breath, and being, attributing human existence and everything possessed to His benevolent and indulgent care.
Moving to the third stanza, the hymn emphasizes God's constant provision and generosity. His hand continuously bestows blessings, filling the air, sea, and land with sustenance and joy. It portrays God's immanence, stating that all creation lives, moves, and has its being *in* Him, sustained by His infused power. Remarkably, this boundless generosity extends even to those who ungratefully reject His gentle rule. The hymn uses the imagery of the sun and rain to illustrate God's impartial common grace, showing favor alike upon those who oppose and those who submit to His authority, demonstrating a universal goodness that transcends human response.
The final stanza pivots to the contrast between the ultimate fate of those who defy God's power and the glorious future awaiting those who seek His love. It paints a vivid picture of eternal joy and a bright crown for the faithful, while those who scorned Him will face His consuming fire. The hymn then broadens into a universal call to praise, summoning all creatures, the angelic hosts, and the highest orders of heavenly beings to participate in an unending song. It culminates in a declaration of God's eternal nature, His sole possession of the kingdom and omnipotent power, affirming that His never-ceasing glories will continue to shine long after the created universe has passed away, underscoring His timeless and ultimate supremacy.
