Words: , in The Spec­ta­tor (London, England), September 20, 1712. The hymn fol­lowed an es­say on “Great­ness” as a source of plea­sure to the im­ag­in­a­tion, with spe­cial ref­er­ence to the ocean; it was in­trod­uced with:

Great paint­ers do not on­ly give us Landskips of Gar­dens, Groves, and Mea­dows, but ve­ry oft­en em­ploy their Pen­cils on Sea-Pieces. I could wish you would fol­low their ex­amp­le. If this small Sketch may de­serve a Place among your Works, I shall ac­comp­a­ny it with a Div­ine ode, made by a Gen­tle­man upon the Con­clu­sion of his Tra­vels.

Music: Prae­tor­i­us, Harmon­iae Hymn­or­um Schol­ae Gor­li­cen­sis, 1599. Al­ter­nate tune:

How are Thy servants blest, O Lord!
How sure is their defense!
Eternal wisdom is their guide,
Their help Omnipotence.

In foreign realms, and lands remote,
Supported by Thy care,
Through burning climes they pass unhurt,
And breathe in tainted air.

When by the dreadful tempest borne
High on the broken wave,
They know Thou art not slow to her,
Nor impotent to save.

The storm is laid, the winds retire,
Obedient to Thy will,
The sea, that roars at Thy command,
At Thy command is still.

From all our griefs and fears, O Lord,
Thy mercy sets us free;
While in the confidence of prayer
Our hearts take hold on Thee.

In midst of dangers, fears and death,
Thy goodness we adore;
We praise Thee for Thy mercies past,
And humbly hope for more

Our life, while Thou preservest life,
A sacrifice shall be;
And death, when death shall be our lot,
Shall join our souls to Thee.