1. Oh how fair that morning broke,
When in Eden man awoke!
Beast and bird and insect bright
Reveled in the gladsome light;
God looked down from Heav’n above,
All was life and joy and love.
2. Ah! the doleful change when sin
Darkly, subtly entered in!
War and pestilence and dearth
Mar and sadden God’s fair earth;
Human sorrow fills the air;
Death is reigning everywhere.
3. Yet rejoice; for God on high
Hath not left His world to die!
God’s dear Son, with dying breath,
Broke the power of sin and death;
Christ the Tempter overthrew,
Christ is making all things new.
4. Lord, in me be sin subdued,
So may I with heart renewed,
Fight the fight and run the race,
Work in my appointed place,
Waiting for the glad new birth
Of Thy perfect Heav’n and earth.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #4960
John Ellerton (b. London, England, 1826; d. Torquay, Devonshire, England, 1893) Educated at King William's College on the Isle of Man and at Trinity College, Cambridge, England, he was ordained in the Church of England in 1851. He served six parishes, spending the longest time in Crewe Green (1860-1872), a church of steelworkers and farmers. Ellerton wrote and translated about eighty hymns, many of which are still sung today. He helped to compile Church Hymns and wrote its handbook, Notes and Illustrations to Church Hymns (1882). Some of his other hymn texts were published in The London Mission Hymn Book (1884).
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