Scripture Verse

Darkness shall cover the earth…but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon Thee. Isaiah 60:2

Introduction

Words: Sa­rah Slinn, in Se­lec­tion of Mis­sion­a­ry & De­vo­tion­al Hymns, by J. Grif­fin (Port­sea, Eng­land: 1797).

Music: Ar­fau, in Car­mi­na Sac­ra, by Lo­well Ma­son (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: John H. Wil­kins & Ri­chard B. Car­ter, 1844), pag­es 52–53 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Lowell Mason
1792–1872

Lyrics

Arise in all Thy splendor, Lord,
Let power attend Thy gracious word;
Unveil the beauties of Thy face,
And show the glories of Thy grace.

Diffuse Thy light and truth abroad,
And be Thou known th’almighty God;
Make bare Thine arm, Thy power display,
While truth and grace Thy scepter sway.

Send forth Thy messengers of peace,
Make Satan’s reign and empire cease;
Let Thy salvation, Lord, be known,
That all the world Thy power may own.

Tho’ darkness o’er the earth pervades,
And men are plunged in dismal shades;
God will arise, at the set time,
On Zion, with a light divine.

Then nations, with His grace replete,
Shall spread their trophies at His feet;
Clothed with immortal bliss, to prove,
The power and greatness of His love.

O may the triumphs of Thy grace
Abound, while righteousness and peace
In mild and lovely forms display
The glories of the latter day.