1. Praise God from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above ye heav'nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Lyrics:
Thomas Ken
Music: "Genevan Psalter", 1551, Possibly Louis Bourgeois
Tune: OLD HUNDREDTH
Meter: L.M.
Thomas Ken, 1637–1711
Thomas Ken, the author of this text, was a bold, outspoken 17th century Anglican bishop. Ken’s illustrious career in the ministry was stormy and colorful. He served for a time as the English chaplain at the royal court in the Hague, Holland. He was so outspoken, however, in denouncing the corrupt lives of those in authority at the Dutch capital that he was compelled to leave after a short stay.
Upon his return to England, he was appointed by King Charles II to be one of his chaplains. Ken continued to reveal the same spirit of boldness in rebuking the moral sins of his dissolute English monarch. Despite this, Charles always admired his courageous chaplain, calling him “the good little man.” The king rewarded Thomas Ken by appointing him to the bishopric of the Bath and Wales area. The historian Macaulay gave this tribute to Bishop Ken: “He came as near to the ideal of Christian perfection as human weakness permits.”