Scripture Verse

And He rested on the seventh day. Genesis 2:2

Introduction

Words: God­frey Thring, 1863. First pub­lished in his Hymns Con­gre­ga­tion­al and Oth­ers, 1866.

Music: Wre­ford Ed­mund S. Car­ter, 1874 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Thring or Car­ter (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Hail! sacred day of earth­ly rest,
From toil and trou­ble free:
Hail! day of light, that bring­est light
And joy to me.

A ho­ly still­ness, breath­ing calm
On all the world around,
Uplifts my soul, O God, to Thee,
Where rest is found.

On all I think, or say, or do,
A ray of light di­vine
Is shed, O God, this day by Thee,
For it is Thine.

No sound of jar­ring strife is heard,
As week­ly la­bors cease;
No voice, but those that sweet­ly sing
Sweet songs of peace.

For those who sing with saints be­low
Glad songs of hea­ven­ly love,
Shall sing—when songs on earth have ceased—
With saints above.

Accept, O God, my hymn of praise,
That Thou, this day, hast giv­en
Sweet fore­taste of that end­less day
Of rest in Hea­ven.