Many know the =
lyrics of the simple doxology. Our family sang it together at every =
gathering as our prayer for the meal. In the remarkable acoustics =
of St Anne’s church in Jerusalem, we sang it in 4-part harmony and =
very slowly, since the repeating echo of that church is so =
astounding.
But it is actually a part of another, much =
longer song, called the Morning Hymn by the Anglican Bishop =
Thomas Ken in 1709. It has had multiple revisions over the course of =
decades for the language of the doxology to reach it final form. His =
original wording of “Praise him above ye Angelick Host” =
became the “Praise him above, ye Heavenly Host” that is so =
familiar to us.
I’d =
encourage you to take time to read ALL 14 stanzas of this wonderful =
hymn. And if you want to sing the final “word of =
glory” to God, the sound or melody or tune will find no judge as =
it falls on the ear of God.
Awake, my =
soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull =
sloth, and joyful rise
To pay thy morning =
sacrifice.
Thy precious =
time misspent, redeem,
Each present day thy last esteem ;
Improve =
thy talent with due care,
For the great day thyself =
prepare.
In =
conversation be sincere,
Keep conscience as the noon-tide clear =
:
Think how all-seeing God thy ways
And all thy secret thoughts =
surveys.
By influence =
of the light divine,
Let thy own light to others shine,
Reflect =
all heaven’s propitious rays,
In ardent love, and cheerful =
praise.
Wake, and lift =
up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all =
night long unwearied sing
High praise to the eternal =
King.
I wake, I =
wake; ye heavenly choir,
May your devotion me inspire,
That I like =
you my age may spend,
Like you may on my God =
attend.
May I like you =
in God delight,
Have all day long my God in sight,
Perform like =
you my Maker’s will,
O may I never more do =
ill.
Had I your =
Wings, to Heaven I’d fly,
But God shall that defect =
supply,
And my Soul wing’d with warm desire,
Shall all day =
long to Heav’n aspire.
All praise to =
Thee who safe hast kept,
And hast refresh’d me whilst I =
slept.
Grant Lord, when I from death shall wake,
I may of endless =
Light partake.
I would not =
wake, nor rise again,
And Heav’n itself I would =
disdain;
Were’t not Thou there to be enjoy’d,
And I in =
Hymns to be employ’d.
Heav’n =
is, dear Lord, where e’er Thou art,
O never then from me =
depart;
For to my Soul, ’tis Hell to be,
But for one moment =
void of Thee.
Lord, I my =
vows to Thee renew,
Disperse my sins as Morning dew,
Guard my =
first springs of Thought and Will,
And with Thy self my Spirit =
fill.
Direct, =
control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
That all =
my Powers with all their might,
In Thy sole Glory may =
unite.
Praise God, =
from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him all Creatures here =
below,
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host,
Praise Father, Son, and =
Holy Ghost.
~~
Dr Bob Griffin =
[email protected] =
www.grif.net =
"Jesus =
Knows Me, This I =
Love!"