1 Heav'nly light, benignly beaming,
Breaketh o'er the hopeless earth.
From the Son eternal streaming,
Spring the rays of promise forth.
Light supernal, O how glorious
To our eyes is Thy advance,
Giving us to see God's plans!
2 All unknown to worldly sages,
Who were to His glory blind,
Jesus came, O light of ages,
Day of grace to all mankind!
Truth He brought to ev'ry seeker,
Grace to ev'ry troubled breast,
Man with peace and mercy blest.
3 In a world where lusts contended,
Crimes were bred and bitterness,
Christ appeared; with Him descended
Love divine and holiness.
Hearts were filled with his pure Spirit,
Love bade warring passions cease;
Earth was blest with joy and peace.
4 Blessed they who ever ready
Hear the heavenly Teacher's Word,
They who walk with purpose steady
In the footsteps of the Lord;
Guided by His Holy Spirit,
Led by faith, and not by sight,
They shall gain the realms of light.
5 Lo, their faith and love shall conquer
Vanity and unbelief,
Shedding o'er a word of rancor
Kindly light, to solace grief.
In life's turmoil, in death's shadow
Anchor they their hope secure
On the Rock that shall endure.
6 Radiance of the Father's glory,
Send Thy beams in splendor forth.
Break upon the ages hoary,
Dawn of faith and peace on earth!
Let this world be as the pathway
To that heaven where shall be
Gathered they who walked with Thee.
Amen.
Source: The Hymnal and Order of Service #325
Johan Olaf Wallin was born at Stora Tuna, in 1779, and early displayed his poetical powers. In 1805, and again in 1809, he gained the chief prize for poetry at Upsala. In the latter year he became pastor at Solna; here his ability as a preacher was so striking that he was transferred to Stockholm, in 1815, as "pastor primarius," a title for which we have no exact equivalent. In 1818 he was made Dean of Westeras, and set about the task of editing a revised hymn-book for the whole of Sweden. This task he completed in 1819, and published it as, Den Swenska Psalmboken, af Konungen gillad och stadfästad (The Swedish hymn-book, approved and confirmed by the King). To it he contributed some 150 hymns of his own, besides translations and recasting… Go to person page >
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