Scripture Verse

Take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. 2 Peter 1:19

Introduction

portrait
Edward Caswall
(1814–1878)
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: At­trib­ut­ed to Am­brose of Mi­lan, 4th Cen­tu­ry (Au­ro­ra jam spar­git po­lum). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Ed­ward Cas­wall, 1849.

Music: Ware­ham Will­iam Knapp, 1738 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Ambrose of Milan (340–397)

Lyrics

The dawn is sprink­ling in the east
Its gold­en show­er, as day flows in;
Fast mount the point­ed shafts of light:
Farewell to dark­ness and to sin!

Away, ye mid­night phan­toms all!
Away, des­pon­dence and des­pair!
Whatever guilt the night has brought
Now let it van­ish into air.

So, Lord, when that last morn­ing breaks,
Looking to which we sigh and pray,
O may it to Thy min­strels prove
The dawn­ing of a bet­ter day.

To God the Fa­ther glo­ry be,
And to His sole be­got­ten Son;
Glory, O Ho­ly Ghost, to Thee
While ev­er­last­ing ag­es run.