Long Had the Nations Sat

Long had the na­tions sat

O’erwhelmed in shades of night;

Thick shades which scarce ad­miss­ion gave

To one faint gleam of light.

Behold the morn­ing star

Now ush­ers in the day!

John was that burn­ing shin­ing light

Sent to pre­pare the way.

Behold a great­er light

The sun it­self arise!

Jesus

bright sun of right­eous­ness

Salutes our won­der­ing eyes.

Light of the world! His beams

Dispel the dole­ful night;

He from our eye­lids clears the film

And pours in heav­en­ly light.

Jesus! Thou light of men!

Thy doc­trine life im­parts;

O may we feel its quick­en­ing pow­er

To warm and glad our hearts.

Cheered by Thy beams

our souls

Shall run the heav­en­ly way;

The paths which Thou hast marked and trod

Shall lead to end­less day.