Behold a Sower! from Afar

Behold a sow­er! from afar

He go­eth forth with might;

The roll­ing years His fur­rows are

His seed

the grow­ing light;

For all the just His Word is sown

It spring­eth up alway;

The ten­der blade is hope’s young dawn

The har­vest

love’s new day.

O Lord of life

to Thee we lift

Our hearts in praise for those

Thy pro­phets

who have shown Thy gift

Of grace that ev­er grows

Of truth that spreads from shore to shore

Of wis­dom’s wid­en­ing ray

Of light that shin­eth more and more

Unto Thy per­fect day.

Shine forth

O Light

that we may see

With hearts all un­afraid

The mean­ing and the mys­te­ry

Of things that Thou hast made;

Shine forth

and let the dark­ling past

Beneath Thy beam grow bright;

Shine forth

and touch the fu­ture vast

With Thine un­trou­bled light.

Light up Thy Word; the fet­tered page

From kill­ing bond­age free;

Light up our way; lead forth this age

In love’s large li­ber­ty.

O Light of light! with­in us dwell

Through us Thy ra­di­ance pour

That word and life Thy truths may tell

And praise Thee ev­er­more.