Scripture Verse

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2

Introduction

portrait
William Boyce (1710–1779)

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Hymns for the Na­ti­vi­ty of Our Lord (Lon­don: Will­iam Stra­han, 1745), num­ber 11.

Music: Hal­ton Hol­gate Will­iam Boyce, in A Col­lect­ion of Me­lo­dies, cir­ca 1765 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

portrait
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Lyrics

Light of those whose drea­ry dwell­ing
Borders on the shades of death,
Come, and by Thy love’s re­veal­ing
Dissipate the clouds be­neath.

The new hea­ven and earth’s cre­at­or,
In our deep­est dark­ness rise,
Scattering all the night of na­ture,
Pouring eye­sight on our eyes.

Still we wait for Thine ap­pear­ing;
Life and joy Thy beams impart,
Chasing all our fears, and cheer­ing
Every poor be­night­ed heart.

Come, and ma­ni­fest the fa­vor
God hath for our ran­somed race;
Come, Thou uni­vers­al Sav­ior,
Come, and bring the Gos­pel grace.

Save us in Thy great com­pas­sion,
O Thou mild, pa­ci­fic Prince;
Give the know­ledge of sal­va­tion,
Give the par­don of our sins.

By Thine all-re­deem­ing mer­it
Every bur­dened soul re­lease;
Every wea­ry, wan­der­ing spir­it
Guide into Thy per­fect peace.