Hymnal: Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs
Date: 1843
Compiler: A Campbell/ W Scott/ B W Stone/ J T Johnson
Publisher/Printer: A Campbell
First Line: The Book of Nature open lies
Topic: Nature
Writer: <no first name given> <no last name given>
Composer:
Meter: CM
Tune: Edom
Hymn Number: Song 1 (part I)
Page Number: 075 (part I), click to see hymnal pages
LyicsThe 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 subtile air,
They cannot, Lord, discover thee,
Though present ev'ry where.
The knowledge of thy 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 flowers 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 power 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.