Praise for God's Word
O blessed be that glorious sun,
Who shines to man with lucid beams,
Lightning our darkness by his word, Refreshing souls with [living] streams.
Darkness the devil’s kingdom is, To which he drew frail [sinning] man;
By promise of false [selfish] light
Thus [sin and] misery began.
When sin had blotted nature’s book,
And blinded [wretched] sinners eyes,
Wisdom and mercy condescend
To reach [the church] by prophecies.
Beginning with a smaller light,
Increasing still till [perfect] day:
Christ by his gospel shining bright
Shews man God’s will and [holy] way.
God ’s laws and prophets made the Jews Excel the Gentiles’ [wisdom] far;
But above them by greater light
[We] Christians [now] advanced are.
Glad news from God to undone man
Even [holy] angels preached then,
Glory to God in highest heav’ns,
[On earth] peace, and good will to men,
Christ was a preacher of this word;
His Spirit did [the same] endite:
He sent apostles through the world,
His word to preach and [then to write.
This teacheth man to know his God.
This [clearly] doth reveal his will,
Tells us all needful saving truth,
[Surely] to know both good and ill.
Here are essentials, integrals,
[And due] adjuncts for ornament,
Christ’s full and universal law,
His [free and] gracious covenant.
The promise of eternal life,
Pardon and [plenteous] saving grace;
By multitudes of wonders seal’d,
And fitted to each [needful] case.
Life to the dead, light to the blind, To guide the doubting [erring] sort:
Strength to the weak; joy to the sad, And [flaming] love to melt the heart.
Millions this holy word hath won;
And millions [it hatli] comforted:
Millions now praising God in heaven,
[To Christ] to God, by this were led.
You saints on earth by this renew’d, Blest souls [above] praise ye the Lord,
Who daily doth increase your church
By prospering this [holy] word.
Were’t not for this, how dark were man;
Still erring, or in [fear and] doubt: Heathens have search’d for saving truth,
But never [fully] found it out.
Some to make way for their own words As [dark and] doubtful God’s accuse,
Light, law, and reason are not charg’d And yet [by man] as much abus’d.
Usurpers cannot mend God’s laws, Though [they are] such as man can break;
What words may not mistaken be? God will not learn [of man] to speak.
What concord could be in the world, Were it not for God’s [certain] word
Divided minds will ne’er agree,
Till in this [centre] they accord.
God is but one, and Lord of all, To [trust and] please him all are bound.
But men are multitudes, and false;
None of full power [and truth] is found.
When man at first forsook God’s word, The [serpent* s] lies did him ensnare:
Those now that leave God’s perfect law, By [human] canons batter’d are.
Christ is the only steadfast rock;
Men [are like] incoherent sand; That falls to dust that’s built on them
What’s built on Christ shall [firmly] stand.
Those who in Christ cannot unite, To get this sand [sotne false] cement,
A monstrous image have devis’d
For all [the earth] one government.
Praise God for his one certain word;
[Trust and] obey this perfect rule: The wand’ring lights of human wit,
[Mislead] divide men, and befool.
God’s word, not man’s, shall judge the world, This is the [holy] spirit’s breath,
The sealed charter of our rights,
Our guide [in life,] our trust at death.