Praise God, from
Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
lyrics Thomas Ken 1674
music : "Old 100th"
from Fourscore and Seven Psalms of David (Geneva Switzerland:
1551); attributed to Louis Bourgeois (1510 - 1561)
These lyrics are actually the
last stanza of a longer hymn, by Thomas Ken, entitled, "Awake, My
Soul, and with the Sun." It was associated with an entirely
different melody. He was a priest in the Church of England and
would later become Bishop of Bath and Wells. He was one of several
bishops of the Church of England who were imprisoned in the Tower of
London for refusing to sign King James II's "Declaration of
Indulgence," which was an attempt to restore Roman Catholicism in
England. He was later acquitted.
Louis Bourgeois (1510 - 1561)
was a contemporary of John Calvin and one of his followers. He
edited the Geneva Psalter and was jailed for altering some of the
melodies. The "Old 100th" got its name from its association
with other lyrics called, "All
People that on Earth Do Dwell" which was a reflection on
Psalm 100.
This is likely the most
commonly used hymn in public worship. Doxology refers to a
liturgical expression of praise to God. Doxologies commonly invoke
the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Ghost.)
