Praise, my Soul, The King of Heaven.
This classic Anglican hymn is loved by millions across the world. Henry Francis Lyte's words are a paraphrase of Psalm 103. Lyte was a clergyman and gifted poet, spending the last twenty-three years of his life ministering in Brixham, Devon, for whose congregation he wrote this hymn. In 1818, he experienced a spiritual awakening, which massively altered the rest of his life, during illness and death of a close friend. Lyte wrote:
"He died happy under the belief that though he had deeply erred, there was One whose death and sufferings would atone for his delinquencies, and be accepted for all that he had incurred. I was greatly affected by the whole matter, and brought to look at life and its issue with a different eye than before; and I began to study my Bible, and preach in another manner than I had previously done."
The tune is by Sir John Goss, organist of St Paul's Cathedral in London.As lockdown continues across much of Australia, we hope that you find these videos helpful in this difficult time when many churches are unable to meet. Please feel free to share this or incorporate it in your online act of worship by downloading it. There is no copyright due, if you use it for your online services during this time. If we can help your scattered congregation, then we are really grateful. Please put an acknowledgement where it is from: 'Courtesy of St Andrew's Cathedral & Choir, Sydney, Australia'.