"How Precious is the Book Divine" by John Fawcett, 1740-1817 Text From: THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.207 1. How precious is the Book Divine, By inspiration given! Bright as a lamp its doctrines shine To guide our souls to heaven. 2. It's light, descending from above Our gloomy world to cheer, Displays a Savior's boundless love And brings his glories near. 3. It shows to man his wandering ways And where his feet have trod, And brings to view the matchless grace Of a forgiving God. 4. O'er all the straight and narrow way Its radiant beams are cast; A light whose never weary ray Grows brightest at the last. 5. It sweetly cheers our drooping hearts In this dark vale of tears, Life, light, and joy it still imparts And quells our rising fears. 6. This lamp through all the tedious night Of life shall guide our way Till we behold the clearer light Of an eternal day. ___________________________________________________ Notes: Hymn #285 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_ Text: Ps. 119:105 Author: John Fawcett, 1782 Tune: "Walder" Composer: Johann J. Walder, 1788 ________________________________________________________________ This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Debbie Harris and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: CFWLibrary@CRF.CUIS.EDU Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St.,Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 481-2123 Fax: (219) 452-2126 ________________________________________________________________