THE MORNING LIGHT IS BREAKING
"The darkness is past, and the true light now shines." 1 John 2:8
Words: Samuel Francis Smith, 1832, alt. Smith wrote this hymn thinking
of the overseas Protestant missions, which were just in their beginning
stages. It achieved its goal, for 50 years later, he wrote:
Music: "Webb," George James Webb, 1830.
The morning light is breaking, the darkness disappears;
The sons of earth are waking, to penitential tears;
Each breeze that sweeps the ocean brings tidings from afar
Of nations in commotion, prepared for Zion's war.
See nations humbly bending before the God we love,
And thousand hearts ascending in gratitude above:
While sinners, now confessing, the gospel call obey,
And seek the Savior's blessing, a nation in a day.
Blessed river of salvation, pursue thy onward way;
Flow thou to every nation, nor in thy richness stay:
Stay not till all the lowly triumphant reach their home;
Stay not till all the holy proclaim, "The Lord is come."