The hymn "Awake, My Soul, and With the Sun" (often identified by its first line or as "The Morning Hymn") has a rich and inspiring history, deeply rooted in personal devotion and a call to a life of purpose. Here's its story: 1. **The Author: Thomas Ken (1637-1711)** * **A Pious Bishop:** Thomas Ken was a devout and influential English bishop, known for his personal integrity, humility, and deep spiritual life. He served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells. * **The Non-Juror:** Ken was one of the "Seven Bishops" imprisoned by King James II for refusing to read the Declaration of Indulgence in 1688. Later, after the Glorious Revolution, he became a "Non-Juror," meaning he refused to swear allegiance to William and Mary because he believed his oath to James II was still binding. This act cost him his bishopric and brought him hardship, but it solidified his reputation for principled conviction. * **His Purpose:** Ken wrote a series of three hymns (Morning, Evening, and Midnight/Bedtime) for the boys of Winchester College, where he had previously been a student and later a prebendary (a type of cleric). These hymns were intended to be sung daily by the students, to instill in them habits of prayer, reflection, and devotion as they began and ended their days. They were first published in an expanded edition of his *Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Scholars of Winchester College* in 1695. 2. **The Hymn Itself: "Awake, My Soul, and With the Sun"** * **The Morning Hymn:** This is Ken's Morning Hymn. Its theme is waking up, greeting the new day, and immediately turning one's thoughts to God. It encourages a disciplined spiritual start to the day. * **Key Themes & "Love and Work":** The hymn beautifully encapsulates the call to a life of "love and work" in a spiritual context: * **Praise and Gratitude:** It begins with a command to the soul to awaken and praise God for the gift of a new day and life itself. * **Repentance and Forgiveness:** It acknowledges human sinfulness and seeks God's mercy and forgiveness ("Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise / To pay thy morning sacrifice. / Redeem thy misspent time that's past, / And live this day as if thy last.") * **Commitment to Duty and Service:** It calls the worshiper to dedicate the day to God's service and to fulfill their duties diligently ("Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart, / And with the angels bear thy part. / My God was with me all this night, / And gave me sweet repose and light.") * **Charity and Love:** The famous lines often associated with the hymn (though sometimes adapted) speak directly to this: "Direct, control, suggest, this day, / All I design, or do, or say; / That all my powers, with all their might, / In thy sole glory may unite." It's about aligning one's actions, thoughts, and words with God's will, which inherently involves love for God and neighbor. * **The Doxology:** Perhaps the most famous contribution of this hymn is its concluding stanza, known globally as "The Doxology": "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." This verse, often sung independently, is a universal expression of praise used in countless Christian services. 3. **Musical Setting and Legacy** * **Winchester Old:** The hymn is most famously sung to the tune "Winchester Old," which dates back to Christopher Tye's Actes of the Apostles (1553), later appearing in Este's Psalter (1592) and Ravenscroft's Psalter (1621). Its majestic and stately character perfectly complements Ken's text, making it highly singable and memorable. * **Enduring Popularity:** "Awake, My Soul, and With the Sun" has remained one of the most beloved and frequently sung morning hymns in the English-speaking world, particularly within Anglican and other Protestant traditions. Its simple, yet profound, language, combined with a strong, familiar melody, has ensured its place in hymnals for over three centuries. In essence, "Awake, My Soul, and With the Sun" is more than just a hymn; it's a spiritual discipline in poetic form. It encourages Christians to consciously begin each day with gratitude, repentance, and a commitment to live purposefully, reflecting God's love through their "love and work" in the world.