Sweet Is the Sunlight After Rain

Sweet is the sun­light af­ter rain

And sweet the sleep which fol­lows pain;

And sweet­ly steals the Sab­bath rest

Upon the world’s work-wear­ied breast.

Of Heav­en the sign

of earth

the calm;

The poor man’s birth­right and his balm;

God’s wit­ness of ce­les­ti­al thing;

A sun with heal­ing in its wings.

New ris­ing in this Gos­pel time

And in its se­ven­fold light sub­lime

Blest day of God! we hail its dawn

To gra­ti­tude and wor­ship drawn.

O naught of gloom and naught of pride

Should with the sac­red hours abide;

At work for God

in loved em­ploy

We lose the du­ty in the joy.

Breathe on us

Lord! our sins for­give

And make us strong in faith to live;

Our ut­most

sor­est need sup­ply

And make us strong in faith to die.