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Subject Area: Political Theory

MILTON’S HYMN TO THE CREATOR - Benjamin Franklin, The Works of Benjamin Franklin, Vol. I Autobiography, Letters and Misc. Writings 1725-1734 [1904]

Edition used:

The Works of Benjamin Franklin, including the Private as well as the Official and Scientific Correspondence, together with the Unmutilated and Correct Version of the Autobiography, compiled and edited by John Bigelow (New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1904). The Federal Edition in 12 volumes. Vol. I (Autobiography, Letters and Misc. Writings 1725-1734).

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


MILTON’S HYMN TO THE CREATOR

    • These are thy Glorious Works, Parent of Good!
    • Almighty; Thine this Universal Frame,
    • Thus wondrous fair! Thy self how wondrous then!
    • Speak ye who best can tell, Ye Sons of Light,
    • Angels, for ye behold him, and with Songs
    • And Choral Symphonies, Day without Night
    • Circle his Throne rejoicing. You in Heav’n.
    • On Earth, join all ye Creatures to extol
    • Him first, him last, him midst and without End.
    • Fairest of Stars, last in the Train of Night
    • If rather Thou belongst not to the Dawn,
    • Sure Pledge of Day! Thou crown’st the smiling Morn.
    • With thy bright Circlet; Praise him in thy Sphere
    • While Day arises, that sweet Hour of Prime.
    • Thou Sun, of this Great World, both Eye and Son
    • Acknowledge him thy greater, Sound his Praise
    • In thy eternal Course; both when thou climb’st
    • And when high Noon hast gain’d, and when thou fall’st.
    • Moon! that now meet’st the orient Sun, now fly’st
    • With the fixed Stars, fixed in their orb that flies,
    • And ye five other wandering Fires, that move
    • In mystic Dance, not without Song; resound
    • His Praise, that out of Darkness called up Light.
    • Air! and ye Elements! the eldest Birth
    • Of Nature’s womb, that in Quaternion run
    • Perpetual Circle, multiform and mix
    • And nourish all things, let your ceaseless Change
    • Vary to our great Maker still new Praise
    • Ye mists and Exhalations that now rise
    • From Hill or steaming lake, dusky or grey,
    • Till the Sun paint your fleecy skirts with Gold
    • In honour to the World’s Great Author rise
    • Whether to deck with Clouds th : uncolour’d sky
    • Or wet the thirsty Earth wth falling Show’rs
    • Rising or falling still advance his Praise.
    • His Praise, ye Winds! that from 4 Quarters blow,
    • Breathe soft or Loud; and wave your Tops ye Pines!
    • With every Plant, in sign of worship wave.
    • Fountains! and ye that warble as ye flow
    • Melodious Murmurs, warbling tune his Praise
    • Join voices all ye living Souls, ye Birds!
    • That singing, up to Heaven’s high Gate ascend
    • Bear on your wings, & in your Note his Praise
    • Ye that in Waters glide! and ye that walk
    • The Earth! and stately tread or lowly creep;
    • Witness if I be silent Ev’n or Morn,
    • To Hill or Valley, Fountain or Fresh Shade
    • Made Vocal by my Song, and taught his Praise.

Here follows the Reading of some Book or part of a Book Discoursing on and exciting to Moral Virtue.