On the Sun's Rising

1 Hail to thy brightness, glorious sun!
That gilds the opening day;
How far beyond the cold pale moon,
Thy warm superior ray!
At thy approach all nature smiles,
Its orient tears dry up;
The birds with songs, the time beguiles,
With gladdening joys they hop.

2 But ah! how sort the transient gleam,
Thy hastening steps forebode,
That the refulgence of thy beam
Do but a transient good;
yet still a sun prepares to rise,
That brings eternal day,
And shews us an immortal prize,
That never will decay.

Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of Christians, 1803