All Praise To Thee, My God, This Night

All praise to Thee, my God, this night,

For all the blessings of the light!

Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,

Beneath Thine own almighty wings.

Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,

The ill that I this day have done,

That with the world, myself, and Thee,

I, when I sleep, at peace may be.

O may my soul on Thee repose,

And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close,

Sleep that may me more vigorous make

To serve my God when I awake.

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.

THOMAS KEN (1637–1711)

IN 1673 Anglican bishop Thomas Ken wrote a Manual of Prayers for the students at Winchester College. The book contained a hymn for the morning, one for evening, and one for midnight. All three hymns conclude with the same stanza, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow”—the most-sung hymn lyrics in the English language.

Thomas Ken knew well that some days are difficult to end with a doxology of praise. Orphaned as a boy, he was adopted by a noted scholar and author. He was ordained in the Church of England and became chaplain to Princess Mary of Orange. But when he spoke against the immorality of the royal court, he soon found himself without a job. Later he was imprisoned in the Tower of London by James II for refusing to read the king’s Declaration of Indulgence. Still, it is said that Bishop Ken continued to use his morning and evening hymns in his personal devotions.

The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before him. For royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations.

Psalm 22:27-28