“Lord! when those glorious lights I see”

George Wither (1588–1667)

Hymn and Prayer for the Use of Believers

LORD! when those glorious lights I see

With which thou hast adorned the skies,

Observing how they movèd be,

And how their splendor fills mine eyes,

Methinks it is too large a grace,

But that thy love ordained it so,—

That creatures in so high a place

Should servants be to man below.

The meanest lamp now shining there

In size and lustre doth exceed

The noblest of thy creatures here,

And of our friendship hath no need.

Yet these upon mankind attend

For secret aid or public light;

And from the world’s extremest end

Repair unto us every night.

O, had that stamp been undefaced

Which first on us thy hand had set,

How highly should we have been graced,

Since we are so much honored yet!

Good God, for what but for the sake

Of thy beloved and only Son,

Who did on him our nature take,

Were these exceeding favors done?

As we by him have honored been,

Let us to him due honors give;

Let us uprightness hide our sin,

And let us worth from him receive.

Yea, so let us by grace improve

What thou by nature doth bestow,

That to thy dwelling-place above

We may be raisèd from below.