No. 121 Tender Care, Gos 291
Hexatonic, mode 1 b (I II — IV V VI 7)
When all thy mercies, O my God,
My rising soul surveys,
Transported with the view, I’m lost
In wonder, love and praise.
Unnumber’d comforts on my soul
Thy tender care bestow’d,
Before my infant soul conceiv’d
From whom those comforts flow’d.
When in the slippery paths of youth,
With heedless steps I ran,
Thine arm, unseen, conveyed me safe,
And led me up to man.
Ten thousand thousand precious gifts
My daily thanks employ;
Nor is the least a cheerful heart,
That tastes those gifts with joy.
Through every period of my life,
Thy goodness I’ll pursue;
And after death in distant worlds,
The pleasing theme renew.
In all eternity to Thee
A grateful song I’ll raise;
But! O eternity’s too short
To utter all thy praise.
Ascribed to P. M. Atchley who was a singing-school man in eastern Tennessee in the early part of the nineteenth century. The tune belongs to the ‘Hallelujah’ family. See the song by that name in this collection for many related melodies.