O God, Before Thy Sun’s Bright Beams

Above:  Lake in Dawn Time

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1863) by Greville Phillimore (1821-1884)

Hymn Source = The Hymnal (1911), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

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O God, before Thy sun’s bright beams

All night’s dark and shadows fly;

So on the soul Thy mercy gleams,

And doubts and terrors die.

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So freshly falls Thy heaven-sent grace

As morning’s gladdening breath;

Gives light to all to seek Thy face,

And guides in life and death.

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O holy light! O light of God!

O light unseen below,

Which fills the courts of Thine abode,

Which there the blest shall know!

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Swift comes the hour when none can toil,

Short is the rugged way:

Teach us to fill our lamps with oil,

Whilst it is called to-day.

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Then we shall see that glorious light

Which to the saints is given,

So sweet, so fair, so passing bright,

The eternal morn of heaven.

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O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

O holy One in Three,

Grant us, with all Thy glorious host,

To share that morn with Thee.

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