Long had the na­tions sat
O’erwhelmed in shades of night;
Thick shades which scarce ad­miss­ion gave
To one faint gleam of light.

Behold the morn­ing star,
Now ush­ers in the day!
John was that burn­ing shining light,
Sent to pre­pare the way.

Behold a great­er light,
The sun it­self arise!
Jesus, bright sun of right­eous­ness,
Salutes our won­der­ing eyes.

Light of the world! His beams
Dispel the dole­ful night;
He from our eye­lids clears the film,
And pours in hea­ven­ly light.

Jesus! Thou light of men!
Thy doc­trine life im­parts;
O may we feel its quick­en­ing pow­er,
To warm and glad our hearts.

Cheered by Thy beams, our souls
Shall run the hea­ven­ly way;
The paths which Thou hast marked and trod
Shall lead to end­less day.