Swell the Anthem, Raise the Song

Swell the anthem, raise the song;
Praises to our God belong.
Saints and angels join to sing
Praises to the heav’nly King.
Blessings from His liberal hand
Flow around this happy land.
Kept by Him, no foes annoy;
Peace and freedom we enjoy.

Here, beneath a peaceful sway,
May we cheerfully obey,
Never feel oppression’s rod,
Ever own and worship God.
Hark, the voice of nature sings
Praises to the King of kings.
Let us join the choral song
And the grateful notes prolong.

Author: Nathaniel Cotton

Year: 1740

This hymn text first appeared in Nathaniel Cotton's 1740 collection 'Hymns and Spiritual Songs'. Some later hymnals have attributed it simply as 'anonymous' or 'unknown', but the original source points to Cotton.