"Until the Day Break," and Other Hymns and Poems Left Behind. By Horatius Bonar |
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OUR HYMN OF DELIVERANCE. |
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 | "Until the Day Break," |  |
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OUR HYMN OF DELIVERANCE.
“Cantemus Domino; gloriose enim magnificatus est.”
—Exod. xv. 21.
—Exod. xv. 21.
For the Day-spring of the nations,
Of the kingdoms wide and far;
For the rising over Europe
Of the Bright and Morning Star;
For the blaze of heavenly sunshine,
For the hues of glorious day,
Coming up behind the shadows
Of the ages long and grey—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
Of the kingdoms wide and far;
For the rising over Europe
Of the Bright and Morning Star;
For the blaze of heavenly sunshine,
For the hues of glorious day,
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Of the ages long and grey—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
For the broken chains of Europe,
For her prison-doors unbarred,
For the freedom of her peoples,
By the freedom-giving Word;
For the battle bravely foughten
With the powers of hellish night;
For the scattering of the darkness,
For the victory of light—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done
For her prison-doors unbarred,
For the freedom of her peoples,
By the freedom-giving Word;
For the battle bravely foughten
With the powers of hellish night;
For the scattering of the darkness,
For the victory of light—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done
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For the ended sleep of Europe,
For the rousing of her sons,
For the shivering of her idols,
For the ruin of their thrones;
For the shout of joyous wonder
As she looks around and sees
The fair flag of living freedom
Floating far upon the breeze—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
For the rousing of her sons,
For the shivering of her idols,
For the ruin of their thrones;
For the shout of joyous wonder
As she looks around and sees
The fair flag of living freedom
Floating far upon the breeze—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
For the rainbow-beaming promise
Of our Europe's better birth;
For the thunder-song of gladness
O'er a liberated earth;
For the Book of peace unfolded,
Lifted up, and set on high;
For the torch of truth relighted,
Nevermore to dim or die—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
Of our Europe's better birth;
For the thunder-song of gladness
O'er a liberated earth;
For the Book of peace unfolded,
Lifted up, and set on high;
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Nevermore to dim or die—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
For the franchise of the conscience,
For the inner man unchained,
For the intellect ennobled,
And the soul's high birthright gained;
For the keys of heaven recovered
From the robber-hands of Rome;
For the Kingdom's open gateway,
And the sinner's welcome home—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
For the inner man unchained,
For the intellect ennobled,
And the soul's high birthright gained;
For the keys of heaven recovered
From the robber-hands of Rome;
For the Kingdom's open gateway,
And the sinner's welcome home—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
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For the flight of ancient spectres,
That had shaded with their gloom
Both the castle and the cottage,
Both the cradle and the tomb;
For the hope of holy triumphs,
In the eras yet to be;
For the pledge to captive millions,
Of release and jubilee—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
That had shaded with their gloom
Both the castle and the cottage,
Both the cradle and the tomb;
For the hope of holy triumphs,
In the eras yet to be;
For the pledge to captive millions,
Of release and jubilee—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
For the watchword of the prophets,
That “the just shall live by faith;”
For the Church's ancient symbol
Of the life that comes through death;
For the standard of Apostles,
Raised aloft and full unfurled,
Glad deliverance proclaiming
To a crushed and trampled world—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
That “the just shall live by faith;”
For the Church's ancient symbol
Of the life that comes through death;
For the standard of Apostles,
Raised aloft and full unfurled,
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To a crushed and trampled world—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
For the martyr's song of triumph,
On the wheel or scorching pyre;
For his strength of meek endurance,
On the rack or torturing fire;
For the noble witness-bearing
To the Christ the Lamb of God,
To the One unchanging Priesthood,
To the One atoning blood—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
On the wheel or scorching pyre;
For his strength of meek endurance,
On the rack or torturing fire;
For the noble witness-bearing
To the Christ the Lamb of God,
To the One unchanging Priesthood,
To the One atoning blood—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
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For the brave protest of Europe
'Gainst the iron rod of Rome,
'Gainst the old Italian spoiler,
'Gainst the wolf of Christendom;
For our Europe's bold confession
Of the one true faith and Lord;
For the Church's bondage broken,
And her ancient rights restored—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
'Gainst the iron rod of Rome,
'Gainst the old Italian spoiler,
'Gainst the wolf of Christendom;
For our Europe's bold confession
Of the one true faith and Lord;
For the Church's bondage broken,
And her ancient rights restored—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
For the everlasting Gospel,
Which in splendour has gone forth,
Like a torch upon the mountains,
Of a re-illumined earth;
For the temple flung wide open,
At whose gates the goodly train
Of the nations had been knocking,
But in vain, so long in vain—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
Which in splendour has gone forth,
Like a torch upon the mountains,
Of a re-illumined earth;
For the temple flung wide open,
At whose gates the goodly train
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But in vain, so long in vain—
Blessèd be God, our God, alone,
Our God, the Everlasting One,
Who spake the word, and it was done!
September 10th, 1883.
| "Until the Day Break," | |