C.D. Warner, et al., comp.
The Library of the World’s Best Literature. An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Hymn, ‘The Spacious Firmament’

From the Spectator, No. 465

THE SPACIOUS Firmament on high

With all the blue Etherial Sky,

And Spangled Heav’ns, a Shining Frame,

Their great Original proclaim:

Th’ unwearied Sun, from Day to Day,

Does his Creator’s Pow’r display,

And publishes to every Land

The Work of an Almighty Hand.

Soon as the Evening Shades prevail,

The Moon takes up the wondrous Tale,

And nightly to the list’ning Earth,

Repeats the Story of her Birth:

While all the Stars that round her burn,

And all the Planets in their Turn,

Confirm the Tidings as they rowl,

And spread the Truth from Pole to Pole.

What though, in solemn Silence, all

Move round the dark terrestrial Ball?

What tho’ nor real Voice nor Sound

Amid their radiant Orbs be found?

In Reason’s Ear they all rejoice,

And utter forth a glorious Voice,

For ever singing, as they shine,

“The Hand that made us is Divine.”