eHymns.org

Author

William Walsham How

Composer

Unknown

Arranger

A. H. M.

Notes

From "Wurtemburg Gesangbuch" and "Meiningisches Gesangbuch", 1693
Munich 7. 6. 7. 6. D.
Text from Psalm 119:105

Music: Munich, Neuvermehrtes Gesangbuch (Meiningen, Germany: 1693); harmony by Felix Mendelssohn, 1847. This was one of the last compositions Mendelssohn ever worked on.

Lyrics

O Word of God Incarnate,
O Wisdom from on high,
O Truth, unchanged, unchanging,
O, Light of our dark sky;
We praise Thee for the radiance
That from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps,
Shines on from age to age.

The Church from her dear Master
Received the gift divine,
And still that light she lifteth
O'er all the earth to shine.
It is the golden casket,
Where gems of truth are stored;
It is the heaven-drawn picture
Of Christ, the living Word.

It floateth like a banner
Before God's host unfurled;
It shineth like a beacon
Above the darkling world;
It is the chart and compass
That o'er life's surging sea,
'Mid mists and rocks and quicksands,
Still guide, O, Christ, to thee.

O make Thy Church, dear Saviour,
A lamp of purest gold,
To bear before the nations
Thy true light, as of old;
O, teach Thy wandering pilgrims
By this their path to trace,
Till, clouds and darkness ended,
They see Thee face to face.