Scripture Verse

Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun. Ecclesiastes 11:7

Introduction

portrait
William W. How (1823–1897)

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),

Lyrics

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.

illustration
Yosemite Upper Falls