A Pilgrim's Hymn, All People that on the Earth Do Dwell

Being thankful for me this year has not come easily.  I'm certainly not in the midst of any huge trial, I'm just caught up in the day to day grind.  Keeping a spirit of thankfulness has been to say the least hard, however, hymns have truly helped me express that which my heart is having a difficult time forming into words .

This particular hymn was used in Puritan worship and would have been one sung by the pilgrims, perhaps even on their first Thanksgiving.  Now these were people who were going through trials, persecuted by the church of England they chose to risk their lives rather than worship God in a way contrary to their beliefs. Within that first year everyone would have lost someone they loved: a mother, father, child, a friend.  No one was left untouched.  Yet they were able to stop and give thanks to God. (NOT THE INDIANS! Although I'm sure they were thankful)  I encourage you to share this hymn with your families this Thanksgiving, perhaps even sing it.

The melody is the Old One Hundredth, better known today as the tune to the Doxology.  If you're not familiar with it you can listen to it here.  May your families have blessed and wonderful Thanksgivings, filled with God's grace and love!

All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.

The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.

O enter then His gates with praise;
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His Name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

For why? the Lord our God is good;
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.

To Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
The God Whom Heaven and earth adore,
From men and from the angel host
Be praise and glory evermore.