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Hymnals of the Stone-Campbell Movement

Enos E. Dowling Hymnal Collection

Hymn: The book of nature open leis (FL)

Hymnal: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs

Date: 1834

Compiler: A Campbell/ W Scott/ B W Stone/ J T Johnson

Publisher/Printer: A Campbell

First Line: The book of nature open leis

Topic: Nature

Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>

Composer:

Meter: CM

Tune:

Hymn Number: Song 1

Page Number: 075, click to see hymnal pages

Lyics

The Book of Nature open lies

With much instruction stor'd,

And when the Lord anoints our eyes,

Its pages light afford.



Philosophers have por'd in vain,

And guess'd from age to age;

For reason's eye could ne'er attain

To understand a page.



Though to each star they give a name,

Its size and motions teach,

The truths which all the stars proclaim,

Their wisdom cannot reach.



With skill to measure earth and sea,

And weigh the subtle air;

They cannot, Lord, discover thee,

Though present ev'ry where.



The knowledge of the saints excels

The wisdom of the schools;

To them his secrets God reveals,

Though men account them fools.



To them the sun and stars on high,

The flow'rs that paint the field,

And all the artless birds that fly,

Divine instruction yield.



The creatures on their senses press,

As witnesses to prove

Their Saviour's pow'r and faithfulness,

His providence and love.



Thus may we study Nature's Book,

To make us wise indeed!

And pity those who only look

At what they cannot read.