University of Virginia Library

[Light the lamp that burneth cheery]

“Ye are the light of the world.”— Matt. v. 14.

Light the lamp that burneth cheery
When the nights are dark and long
And the storm without is eerie
And the household gathers near ye
For work and the tale and song:
In the world are sin and sadness,
Bringing misery and madness;
Light your home with Christian gladness.
Light the lamps through all the city,
Twinkling in the crowded street,
Where the foolish and the witty,
And the wretched seeking pity,
And rogues and righteous meet;
Keep your lights there clearly shining,
Truth and right and love combining,
All the common highways lining.
Light the lamp, oh, keep it blazing,
Where the storm is raging high,
And the shipwrecked soul is gazing
To the clouds that are erasing
All the star-guides in the sky;
Through the tempest and the terror,
And the darkness and the horror,
Flash the glory from thy mirror.
Where our lights thus shining rightly
In the home and in the street

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Through the gloom that cometh nightly,
And our beacons gleaming brightly
Where perilous breakers beat,
Little then should men be needing
All our arguing and pleading,
With that life-light God ward leading.