Section 5 Reading 6:
Joseph Addison: The Spacious Firmament

The spacious firmament on high,
With all the blue ethereal sky,
And spangled heav'n's, 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 listening 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 roll,
And spread the truth from pole to pole.

What though in solemn silence all
Move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though no real voice nor sound
Amid their radiant orbs be found?
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
And utter forth a glorious voice,
Forever singing as they shine,
"The hand that made us is divine."

Amen.

Discussion Questions

What view of God does this hymn take? What aspects of traditional hymns does it seem to lack?

Go to Caucus Discussion Conference

Source of this Text

http://www.baylor.edu/~BIC/WCIII/Essays/spac_firm.html

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