Hymns · 1739

Parent of good, whose plenteous grace

Made popular by Charles Wesley, John Wesley

Details

Hymnal / album Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)

Publisher William Strahan

Notes Originally titled: "Grace Before Meat." This is the original version of this hymn, as first published in "Hymns and Sacred Poems (1739)," published by John and Charles Wesley (London: William Strahan, 1739). Published in The Poetical Works of John and Charles Wesley, Collected and Arranged by G. Osborn, Vol. 1 (London: Wesleyan-Methodist Conference Office, 1868), page 189.

Scripture connections

References

Verses this song directly draws from

Psalm 34:8 John 6:27 John 6:33 John 6:38 John 6:49-58 Acts 2:46 I Timothy 4:4-5 Hebrews 1:3 I Peter 2:3

Allusions

Verses this song echoes or alludes to

Exodus 16:31-35 Numbers 11:6-9 Deuteronomy 8:3 Deuteronomy 8:16 Joshua 5:12 Nehemiah 9:20 Psalm 78:24 Psalm 104:27-28 Psalm 136:25 Psalm 145:15-16 Ecclesiastes 3:13 Ecclesiastes 5:19 Matthew 4:4 Luke 4:4 John 6:31 Hebrews 9:4 Revelation 2:17

Lyrics

Verse 1
Parent of good, whose plenteous grace
O’er all thy creatures flows,
Humbly we ask thy pow’r to bless
The food thy love bestows. (Ps. 145:15-16, Ps. 104:27-28, Ps. 136:25)

Verse 2
Thy love provides the sober feast:
A second gift impart, (Ecc. 3:13, Ecc. 5:19)
Give us with joy our food to taste
And with a single heart. (Acts 2:46)

Verse 3
Let it for thee new life afford,
For thee our strength repair,
Blest by thine all-sustaining word, (Heb. 1:3, Deut. 8:3, Matt. 4:4, Luke 4:4)
And sanctify’d by prayer. (I Tim. 4:4-5)

Verse 4
Thee let us taste; nor toil below (Ps. 34:8, I Pet. 2:3)
For perishable meat: (John 6:27)
The manna of thy love bestow, (Ex. 16:31-35, Num. 11:6-9, Deut. 8:3, Deut. 8:16, Joshua 5:12, Neh. 9:20, Ps. 78:24, John 6:31, John 6:49, John 6:58, Heb. 9:4, Rev. 2:17)
Give us thy flesh to eat. (John 6:52, John 6:53-56)

Verse 5
Life of the world, our souls to feed (John 6:33, John 6:51)
Thyself descend from high! (John 6:38)
Grant us of thee the living bread (John 6:51)
To eat, and never die! (John 6:50, John 6:57, John 6:58)