I LIGHT of Light, enlighten me!
Now anew the day is dawning;
Sun of grace, the shadows flee,
Brighten Thou my Sabbath morning:
With Thy joyous sunshine blest,
Happy is my day of rest.
2 Fount of all our joy and peace,
To Thy living waters lead me;
Thou from earth my soul release,
And with grace and mercy feed me;
Bless Thy Word that it may prove
Rich in fruits that Thou dost love.
3 Kindle Thou the sacrifice
That upon my lips is lying;
Clear the shadows from mine eyes,
That, from every error flying,
No strange fire may in me glow
That Thine altar doth not know.
4 Let me with my heart to-day,
Holy, holy, holy, singing,
Rapt awhile from earth away,
All my soul to Thee up-springing,
Have a foretaste inly given,
How they worship Thee in Heaven. 5 Rest in me and I in Thee,
Build a paradise within me;
O reveal Thyself to me,
Blessed Love, who died'st to win me;
Fed from Thine exhaustless urn,
Pure and bright my lamp shall burn.
6 Hence all care, all vanity,
For the day to God is holy :
Come, thou glorious Majesty,
Deign to fill this temple lowly;
Naught to-day my soul shall move,
Simply resting in Thy love.
Rev. Benjamin Schmolke (1672-1737), 1704. Tr. by Miss Catherine Winkworth (1829-1878), 1858.
Praise from the whole Creation.-Ps. cxlviii,
I PRAISE the Lord, ye Heavens, adore Him,
Praise Him, angels, in the height;
Sun and moon, rejoice before Him ;
Praise Him, all ye stars of light.
2 Praise the Lord, for He hath spoken;
Worlds His mighty voice obeyed;
Laws which never shall be broken,
For their guidance He hath made.
3 Praise the Lord, for He is glorious
Never shall His promise fail;
God hath made His saints victorious;
Sin and death shall not prevail.
Praise the God of our salvation;
Hosts on high, His power proclaim; Heaven and earth, and all creation, Laud and magnify His name.
Rev. John Kempthorne (1775-1838), 1809.
God is Love.--1 JOHN iv. 8.
I GOD is Love; His mercy brightens
All the path in which we rove;
Bliss He wakes, and woe He lightens :
God is wisdom, God is love.
2 Chance and change are busy ever ;
Man decays, and ages move;
But His mercy waneth never;
God is wisdom, God is love.
E'en the hour that darkest seemeth
Will His changeless goodness prove;
From the mist His brightness streameth :
God is wisdom, God is love.
4 He with earthly cares entwineth
Hope and comfort from above;
Everywhere His glory shineth:
God is wisdom, God is love.
Sir John Bowring (1792—1872), 1825.
Praise on Earth and in Heaven.-REV. iv. 11.
I PRAISE to Thee, Thou great Creator,
Praise be Thine from every tongue;
Join, my soul, with every creature,
Join the universal song.
2 Father, Source of all compassion,
Pure unbounded grace is Thine:
Hail the God of our salvation,
Praise Him for His love divine.
3 For ten thousand blessings given,
For the richest gifts bestowed.
Sound His praise thro' earth and Heaven,
Sound Jehovah's praise aloud.
4 Joyfully on earth adore Him,
Till in Heaven our song we raise ;
There, enraptured fall before Him,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise.
Rev. John Fawcett (1739-1817), 1767. Alt.
I PRAISE to God who reigns above,
Binding earth and Heaven in love:
All the armies of the sky
Worship His dread sovereignty.
Seraphim His praises sing,
Cherubim on fourfold wing,
Thrones, dominions, princes, powers,
Ranks of might that never cowers.
2 Angel hosts His word fulfil,
Ruling nature by His will ;
Round His throne archangels pour
Songs of praise for evermore.
Yet on man they joy to wait,
All that bright celestial state;
For true man their Lord they see,
Christ, th' incarnate Deity.
3 On the throne our Lord, who died,
Sits in manhood glorified;
Where His people faint below,
Angels count it joy to go.
O the depths of joy divine,
Thrilling through those orders nine,
When the lost are found again,
When the banished come to reign.
Rev. Richard Meux Benson, 1861. Ab.
Thrice Holy.--Is. vi, 3.
I HOLY, holy, holy, Lord!
God of Hosts! When Heaven and earth,
Out of darkness, at Thy word,
Issued into glorious birth,
All Thy works before Thee stood,
And Thine eye beheld them good,
While they sang with sweet accord,
Holy, holy, holy, Lord!
2 Holy, holy, holy! Thee, One Jehovah evermore, Father, Son, and Spirit, we,
Dust and ashes, would adore; Lightly by the world esteemed, From that world by Thee redeemed, Sing we here, with glad accord, Holy, holy, holy, Lord!
3 Holy, holy, holy! All
Heaven's triumphant choir shall sing, When the ransomed nations fall
At the footstool of their King: Then shall saints and seraphim, Hearts and voices, swell one hymn, Round the throne with full accord, Holy, holy, holy, Lord!
James Montgomery (1771-1854), 1836, 1853.
10 "Speak, for Thy servant heareth."-1 SAM, iii, 10.
I IN Thy Name, O Lord, assembling,
We, Thy people, now draw near :
Teach us to rejoice with trembling;
Speak, and let Thy servants hear,
Hear with meekness,
Hear Thy word with godly fear.
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