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Advent Hymnals

Hymns and Tunes 1886 171

I love the sacred book of God

Words: AnonMusic: Gregorian, arr. by Lowell MasonTune: HAMBURGL. M.

Studio

1I love the sacred book of God,
No other can its place supply;
It points me to the saints' abode,
And bids me from destruction fly.

2Sweet book! In thee my eyes discern
The image of my absent Lord;
From thy instructive page I learn
The joys his presence will afford.

3But while I'm here, thou shalt supply
His place, and tell me of his love;
I'll read with faith's discerning eye,
And thus partake of joys above.

4Within thy sacred leaves I find
A transcript of my Maker's will;
Treasures of knowledge here abound,
The offspring infinite mind to fill.

5Light of the world, thy beams impart,
To lead my feet through life's dark way;
O, shine in this benighted heart,
Nor let me from thy guidance stray.

Words
Anon
Meter
L. M.

Public Domain

The verse

Meter
8.8.8.8 · as printed
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 68% of beats fit
Rhyme
ABAB
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

I love the sacred book of God,˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
No other can its place supply;˘/˘˘˘/˘/8B
It points me to the saints' abode,˘/˘˘˘/˘/8C
And bids me from destruction fly.˘/˘˘˘/˘/8B

Verse 2

Sweet book! In thee my eyes discern//˘/˘/˘/8A
The image of my absent Lord;˘/˘˘˘/˘/8B
From thy instructive page I learn˘///˘/˘/8A
The joys his presence will afford.˘/˘/˘˘˘/8B

Verse 3

But while I'm here, thou shalt supply˘/////˘/8A
His place, and tell me of his love;˘/˘/˘˘˘/8B
I'll read with faith's discerning eye,//˘/˘/˘/8A
And thus partake of joys above.˘/˘/˘/˘/8B

Verse 4

Within thy sacred leaves I find˘///˘/˘/8A
A transcript of my Maker's will;˘//˘˘/˘˘8B
Treasures of knowledge here abound,/˘˘/˘/˘/8C
The offspring infinite mind to fill.˘///˘˘/˘/9B

Verse 5

Light of the world, thy beams impart,/˘˘/////8A
To lead my feet through life's dark way;˘/˘/////8B
O, shine in this benighted heart,˘/˘˘˘/˘/8A
Nor let me from thy guidance stray.˘/˘˘//˘/8B

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.