The Cyber Hymnal ‎#16416

16416. "Let There Be Light," Thus Spake The Word

1 "Let there be light," thus spake the Word;
The Word was God, "and there was light";
Still the cre­at­ive voice is heard;
A day is born from ev­ery night.

2 And ev­ery night shall turn to day,
While months, and years, and ag­es roll;
But we have seen a bright­er ray
Dawn on the cha­os of the soul.

3 Nor we alone; its wak­en­ing smiles
Have broke the gloom of pa­gan sleep:
The Word hath reached the ut­most isles,
God’s Spir­it moves up­on the deep.

4 Already from the dust of death,
Man in his mak­er’s im­age stands;
Once more in­hales im­mor­tal breath,
And stretch­es forth to Heav’n his hands.

5 From day to day, be­fore our eyes,
Glows and ex­tends the work be­gun;
When shall the new cre­ation rise
On ev­ery land be­neath the sun?

6 When, in the Sab­bath of His love,
Shall God amidst His la­bors rest;
And, bend­ing from His throne ab­ove,
Again pro­nounce His crea­tures blessed?

Text Information

• First Line: "Let there be light," thus spake the Word
• Title: "Let There Be Light," Thus Spake The Word
• Author: James Montgomery
• Meter: LM
• Language: English
• Source: Sacred Poems and Hymns, (New York: D. Appleton, 1854)
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Alternate tunes: ST. CRISPIN by George J. Elvey, ST. DROSTANE by John B. Dykes, ST. LAWRENCE by Leight G. Hayne

Tune Information

• Name: STORRS
• Composer: Timothy Richard Matthews (1883)
• Meter: LM
• Key: E♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain