Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

portrait
Robert A. Jennings, Jr.
1859–1931

Words: Charles Wes­ley, Hymns and Sac­red Po­ems 1749.

Music: Beau­raing Ro­bert A. Jen­nings, Jr., Help­ful Gos­pel Songs, ed­it­ed by F. A. En­slow, Ro­bert A. Jen­nings & F. Le­roy Ens­low (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia; Chi­ca­go, Il­li­nois; and Si­lo­am Springs, Ar­kan­sas: Praise Pub­lish­ing, 1908), num­ber 12 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Charles Wesley (1707–1788)

Lyrics

Light of life, seraphic fire,
Love divine, Thy­self impart;
Every fainting soul inspire,
Shine in every drooping heart;
Every mournful sinner cheer,
Scatter all our guilty gloom,
Son of God, appear, appear!
To Thy human temples come.

Come in this accepted hour,
Bring Thy heav’nly kingdom in;
Fill us with Thy glo­ri­ous power,
Rooting out the seeds of sin;
Nothing more can we require,
We will covet nothing less;
Be Thou all our hearts’ desire,
All our joy and all our peace.

Whom but Thee have we in Heav’n?
Whom have we on earth but Thee?
Only Thou to us be giv’n,
All beside is vanity;
Grant us love, we ask no more;
Every other gift remove;
Pleasure, fame, and wealth, and power,
Still we all enjoy in love.