"The point is plain as a pike-staff."
John Byrom, John Byrom of Kersal, or John Byrom of Manchester was an English poet, the inventor of a revolutionary system of shorthand and later a significant landowner. He is most remembered as the writer of the lyrics of Anglican hymn "Christians, awake, salute the happy morn", which was supposedly a Christmas gift for his daughter.
"Endless Perfections after all conspire, And to adore excite and to admire; But to plain Minds the Plainest Powr Above Is Native Goodness to attract our Love; Centre of all Its various Powr and Skill Is One Divine, Immutable Good Will."
John Byrom"Were I a king (God bless me) I should hate My chaplains meddling with affairs of state; Nor would my subjects, I should think, be fond, Whenever theirs the Bible went beyond."
John Byrom"In reading authors, when you find Bright passages that strike your mind, And which perhaps you may have reason To think on at another season, Be not contented with the sight, But take them down in black and white; Such a respect is wisely shown That makes anothers sense ones own."
John Byrom"The One Unbounded, Undivided Good, By all His Creatures partly understood. If therefore Sense of its apparent Parts Raise not His Love or Worship in our Hearts, Our selfish Wills or Notions we may feast, And have no more Religion than a Beast."
John Byrom"My spirit longs for Thee, Within my troubled breast, Though I unworthy be Of so divine a Guest."
John Byrom"No rest is to be found But in Thy blessèd love; O let my wish be crowned And send it from above."
John Byrom