Behold the Sun, how bright
From yonder East he springs,
As if the soul of life and light
Were breathing from his wings.
So bright the Gospel broke
Upon the souls of men;
So fresh the dreaming world awoke
In Truth's full radiance then.
Before yon Sun arose,
Stars clustered thro' the sky—
But oh how dim, how pale were those,
To His one burning eye!
So Truth lent many a ray,
To bless the Pagan's night—
But, Lord, how weak, how cold were they
To Thy One glorious Light!
LORD, WHO SHALL BEAR THAT DAY.
(AIR.—DR. BOYCE.)
Lord, who shall bear that day, so dread, so splendid,
When we shall see thy Angel hovering o'er
This sinful world with hand to heaven extended,
And hear him swear by Thee that time's no more?[1]
When Earth shall feel thy fast consuming ray—
Who, Mighty God, oh who shall bear that day?
When thro' the world thy awful call hath sounded—
"Wake, all ye Dead, to judgment wake, ye Dead!"
And from the clouds, by seraph eyes surrounded,
The Saviour shall put forth his radiant head;[2]
While Earth and Heaven before Him pass away[3]—
Who, Mighty God, oh who shall bear that day?
When, with a glance, the Eternal Judge shall sever
Earth's evil spirits from the pure and bright,
And say to those, "Depart from me for ever!"
To these, "Come, dwell with me in endless light!"[4]
When each and all in silence take their way—
Who, Mighty God, oh who shall bear that day?
[1] And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth, lifted up his hand to heaven, and swear by Him that liveth for ever and ever…that there should be time no longer."—Rev. x. 5, 6.