The City of God

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Bathed in unfallen sunlight

Author: Horatius Bonar
Published in 9 hymnals

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Representative Text

1 Bathed in unfallen sunlight,
Itself a sunborn gem,
Fair gleams the glorious city,
The new Jerusalem!
City fairest, splendor rarest,
Let me gaze on thee!
O city fairest, splendor rarest,
Home for all the free!

2 Calm in her queenly glory,
She sits all joy and light:
Pure in her bridal beauty,
Her raiment festal white!
Home of gladness, free from sadness,
Let me dwell in thee!
O home of gladness, free from sadness,
Mine eternally!

3 Shading her golden pavement,
The tree of life is seen,
Its fruit-rich branches waving,
Celestial evergreen.
Tree of wonder, let me under
Thee forever rest!
O tree of wonder, let me under
Thy rich boughs be blest!

4 Rich are the priceless jewels
That deck her mighty walls,
And from the throne of God-head
A wondrous radiance falls.
City fairest, splendor rarest,
Let me gaze on thee!
O city fairest, splendor rarest,
Home for all the free!

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Author: Horatius Bonar

Horatius Bonar was born at Edinburgh, in 1808. His education was obtained at the High School, and the University of his native city. He was ordained to the ministry, in 1837, and since then has been pastor at Kelso. In 1843, he joined the Free Church of Scotland. His reputation as a religious writer was first gained on the publication of the "Kelso Tracts," of which he was the author. He has also written many other prose works, some of which have had a very large circulation. Nor is he less favorably known as a religious poet and hymn-writer. The three series of "Hymns of Faith and Hope," have passed through several editions. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Bathed in unfallen sunlight
Title:	The City of God
Author:	Horatius Bonar
Meter:	7.6.7.6.8.6.9.5
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

Psalm 87:3
(hymns)

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Notes

Bathed in unfallen sunlight. H. Bonar. [Heaven.] Appeared in the Quarterly Journal of Prophecy, Oct. 1859, then in his Hymns of Faith and Hope, 2nd Series, 1861, p. 25, and again in Hymns by Horatius Bonar, 1904, p. 75, in 6 stanzas of 7 lines, entitled "The New Jerusalem " and dated 1859. In the Baptist Hymnal, 1883, stanzas iv.-vi., slightly altered, are given as “Fresh from the throne of glory." [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)

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