Begin, my soul, the exalted lay


Begin, my soul, th'exalted lay;
let each enraptured thought obey,
and praise th'Almighty's Name:
let heaven and earth, and sea and skies,
in one melodious concert rise,
to swell th'inspiring theme.

Ye angels, catch the thrilling sound,
while all the adoring thrones around
his boundless mercy sing;
let every listening saint above
wake all the tuneful soul of love,
and touch the sweetest string.

Whate'er this living world contains,
that wings the air or treads the plains,
united praise bestow;
ye tenants of the ocean wide,
proclaim him through the mighty tide,
and in the deeps below.

Let man, by nobler passions swayed,
the feeling heart, the judging head,
in heavenly praise employ;
spread his tremendous Name around,
till heaven's broad arch rings back the sound
the general burst of joy.


Words: John Ogilvie, 1753, metrical version of Psalm 148

Music: Harwood

Meter: 886 D

Hymnal, Year Number Tunes Other comments
Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861-1874      
The Anglican Hymn Book, 1868       
The Sarum Hymnal, 1869      
The Church Hymnal, 1871 (Hall & Whiteley) 419 St. Cyril  
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Goodrich & Gilbert) 419 Harwood  
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Tucker & Rousseau) 419 Treves  
The Church Hymnal, 1874 (Hutchins) 419 Harwood  
Church Hymns with Tunes, 1874      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1874      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Standard, 1875-1924      
A Church of England Hymn Book, 1879      
The Universal Hymn Book, 1885      
The Hymnal Companion, 1890      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Darlington)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Parker)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Hutchins)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Tucker & Rousseau)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Helfenstein)      
The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Messiter)      
The Yattendon Hymnal, 1900
     
Church Hymns, New Edition, 1903      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition, 1904      
The English Hymnal, 1906      
The Book of Common Praise, 1908      
The Hymnal 1916      
Church Hymnal for the Christian Year, 1917      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1919      
Church Hymnal Revised, 1920 (Hutchins)      
The Oxford Hymn Book, 1925      
Songs of Praise, 1925      
Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition, 1931      
The Book of Common Praise, 1938      
The Hymnal 1940      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, Revised, 1950      
The Mirfield Mission Hymn Book, 1955      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1960      
Anglican Hymn Book, 1965      
The Hymn Book 1971      
The Australian Hymn Book / With One Voice, 1977      
The Hymnal 1982      
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard, 1983      
The New English Hymnal, 1985      
Hymns for Today's Church, second edition, 1988      
Church Family Worship, 1988      
Hymns Old & New, New Anglican Edition, 1996      
Common Praise (Anglican Church of Canada), 1998      
Together in Song: The Australian Hymn Book II, 1999      
Sing Glory, 1999      
Complete Mission Praise, 2000      
Common Praise: Hymns Ancient & Modern, 2000      
Hymns Old & New, Complete Anglican Edition, 2000      
Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 2000      

Website compiled by Steve Benner, 1999-2004.