Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun.
Ecclesiastes 11:7
Words: William W. How, 1871.
Music: Ruth (Smith) Samuel Smith, 1865 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Smith (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
God’s free mercy streameth
Over all the world,
And His banner gleameth,
By His church unfurled;
Broad and deep and glorious,
As the heaven above,
Shines in might victorious
His eternal love.
Summer suns are glowing
Over land and sea;
Happy light is flowing
Bountiful and free;
Everything rejoices
In the mellow rays;
Earth’s ten thousand voices
Swell the psalm of praise.
Lord, upon our blindness
Thy pure radiance pour;
For Thy lovingkindness
We would love Thee more;
And when clouds are drifting
Dark across the sky,
Then, the veil uplifting,
Father, be Thou nigh.
We will never doubt Thee,
Though Thou veil Thy light;
Life is dark without Thee,
Death with Thee is bright;
Light of light, shine o’er us
On our pilgrim way;
Go Thou still before us
To the endless day.