Thou, whose almighty word

Missionary Hymn.

Thou, whose almighty word
Chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight,
Hear us, we humbly pray;
And, where the gospel's day
Sheds not its glorious ray,
Let there be light.

2 Thou, who didst come to bring
On Thy redeeming wing
Healing and sight,
Health to the sick in mind,
Sight to the inly blind,
O now to all mankind
Let there be light.

3 Spirit of truth and love,
Life-giving, holy Dove,
Speed forth Thy flight;
Move o'er the waters' face
Bearing the lamp of grace,
And in earth's darkest place
Let there be light.

4 Holy and blessed
Three, Glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might!
Boundless as ocean's tide
Rolling in fullest pride
Through the world, far and wide,
Let there be light.

This hymn was written about 1813 by the Rev. John Marriott, pastor of a country church in England. In Genesis i, ii, and iii, we are told how the Spirit of God moved over the waters, before the earth bad taken shape, and how God's voice called through the dark, " Let there be light." And now the poet prays that God will send His Holy Spirit with the light of Christ's gospel to all places in the world that are dark with sin and shame. [NOTE.—Verse 4, line 1. Marriott wrote this line, " Blessed, and holy, and."]