Give me the Wings of Faith to Rise

This is a hymn about the saints and their faithfulness. It was written by English poet and Dissenting church minister Isaac Watts (1674-1748).

With meter 8.6.8.6, tunes it is set to include:

SONG 67 by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625 ), from "Llyfr Psalm" 1621
BALLERMA, adapted by Robert Simpson (1790-1832)
SAN ROCCO, by Derek Williams (b 1945)
BETHPAGE by Howard Helvey (b 1968)

and many others: it does not appear to have settled with any one tune, and this may explain why it is not more widely unknown.

Some people sing it as "Give us the wings of faith to rise".

Downloads

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PowerPoint slides

Examples

Cathedral choir:

Congregation with piano:

Solo singer with piano and band (unnamed tune - a more contemporary sound):

choir with organ:

Instrumental (organ) with on-screen lyrics:

Lyrics

Give me the wings of faith to rise
Within the veil, and see
The saints above, how great their joys,
How bright their glories be.

Once they were mourners here below,
And poured out cries and tears;
They wrestled hard, as we do now,
With sins and doubts and fears.

I ask them whence their victory came:
They, with united breath,
Ascribe their conquest to the Lamb,
Their triumph to His death.

They marked the footsteps that He trod,
His zeal inspired their breast;
And, following their incarnate God,
Possess the promised rest.

Our glorious Leader claims our praise
For His own pattern given;
While the long cloud of witnesses
Show the same path to Heaven.