I am writing this study as word is spreading about the death of the man most believe to be the greatest theologian of the 20th century: J. I. Packer. Though he never (to my knowledge) wrote a hymn, he wrote his doctoral dissertation on the 17th century Puritan, Richard Baxter. And it is on a hymn written by Baxter that we will focus our attention. But first a few words about each of these men.
James Innell Packer died on Friday, July 17, just shy of his 94th birthday. D. A. Carson described him as a “big-God” theologian! The author of hundreds of books and articles, he will be best remembered for his classic “Knowing God,” a book that will likely still be read 200 years from now. J. I. Packer (as he was known to most) was born in a village outside of Gloucester, England, on July 22, 1926. Raised in a nominally Christian Anglican home, he was converted in 1944 at an InterVarsity meeting as an undergraduate at Oxford University. He received his doctorate there in 1952 with a study of Richard Baxter, and Baxter’s controversial doctrinal aberrations.
Packer spent the first half of his career in England before moving to Canada, where his career included teaching, writing, and lecturing. Even before coming to the US, he was one of the three most influential evangelical leaders in England (along with John Stott and Martyn Lloyd-Jones). He was a much-sought-after speaker in conferences around the world and frequent essayist in Christianity Today. He spent a decade in leadership of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy. He was a recognized authority on the Puritans, and especially John Owen. His introduction to Owen’s classic “The Death of Death in the Death of Christ” is read more often than Owen’s work. Packer’s other well-known works include “Fundamentalism and the Word of God,” “Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God,” “A Quest for Holiness,” and “Keep in Step with the Spirit.” Topping the list is “Knowing God,” which has sold over a million and a half copies. He was General Editor for the “English Standard Version” of the Bible, calling it “the greatest achievement of my life.” Social media is full of tributes to the character, testimony, and literary legacy of this humble spiritual giant.
His ministry concluded in 2016, when he became unable to read, travel, or speak publicly due to going blind from macular degeneration. When asked late in life what his final words to the church might be, Packer replied, “I think I can boil it down to four words: Glorify Christ every way.” That can serve as an epitaph for what Packer did in his lifetime and what he is doing now. Here is a link to Packer in his own words.
As for Richard Baxter (1615-1691), he is best remembered for his book, “The Reformed Pastor,” which is not about reformed theology as much as it is a reformed view of ministry in which the pastor takes time to personally shepherd his people, visiting in their homes to inquire into their spiritual progress. That was what Baxter did in the 19 years he served the congregation at St. Mary’s Church, Kidderminster, where he preached (in his own words) “as a dying man to dying men.” He authored at least 168 books, including “A Call to the Unconverted,” “The Saints’ Everlasting Rest” and “The Christian Directory,” and saw great advancement in the lives of the hundreds who came to Christ there during his ministry. He served during the tumultuous years of the English civil war (even being imprisoned himself for 18 months), the Long Parliament, and the tremendously important Westminster Assembly.
This was still the time when English congregations sang Psalms. But while he did not anticipate it being sung, one of Baxter’s poems is now frequently found in hymnals. I have included it here because of Packer’s doctoral dissertation on the theology of Baxter. Written in 1672, Ye Holy Angels Bright is based on Psalm 148, especially verse 2: Praise Him, all His angels; praise Him, all His hosts. It is usually sung to the tune DARWALL’S 148th, which everyone uses for Rejoice, the Lord Is King. It has been included in many hymnals, though usually with only four of the eight stanzas.
If J. I. Packer’s legacy was to point us to a great God, then certainly great things are to be sung about Him. And that is exactly what we find in this poetry of Baxter. Typical of the Puritans (and Packer has sometimes been called “The Last Puritan”), the theme is filled with doxological delight in the attributes of God. Here, as in Psalm 148:2, the singer calls for joyful songs to be lifted up by a succession of objects: angels around the throne (stz 1), departed saints in glory (stz 2), struggling believers still here in earth (stz 3), all the nations in the world (stz 4), worshippers in churches (stz 5), my own soul (stz 6), banishing all worries (stz 7) and looking ahead to future glory in heaven’s courts in the presence of the King (stz 8). You already knew that Puritan sermons and books and prayers were lengthy, so don’t be surprised that a Puritan hymn stretches to eight stanzas!
- Ye holy angels bright, Who stand before God’s throne
And dwell in glorious light, Praise ye the Lord each one.
Assist our song, or else the theme Too high doth seem for mortal tongue. - Ye blessèd souls at rest, That see your Savior’s face,
Whose glory, e’en the least, Is far above our grace.
God’s praises sound, as in His sight With sweet delight you do abound. - Ye saints, who toil below, Adore your heavenly king,
And onward as ye go Some joyful anthem sing;
Take what He gives and praise Him still, Through good or ill, who ever lives! - All nations of the earth, Extol the world’s great King:
With melody and mirth His glorious praises sing,
For He still reigns, and will bring low The proudest foe that Him disdains. - Sing forth Jehovah’s praise, Ye saints, that on Him call!
Him magnify always His holy churches all!
In Him rejoice and there proclaim His holy name with sounding voice. - My soul, bear thou thy part, Triumph in God above,
And with a well tuned heart Sing thou the songs of love.
And all my days let no distress Nor fears suppress His joyful praise. - Away, distrustful care! I have Thy promise, Lord:
To banish all despair, I have Thine oath and Word:
And therefore I shall see Thy face And there Thy grace shall magnify. - With Thy triumphant flock Then I shall numbered be;
Built on th’eternal rock, His glory shall we see.
The heav’ns so high With praise shall ring And all shall sing in harmony.
Here’s a video of a portion of this hymn being sung in worship. It only includes a few stanzas. There is a nice interlude before the final stanza.