This Day the First of Days Was Made

This day the first of days was made

When God in light the world ar­rayed;

Or when His Word arose again

And

con­quer­ing death

gave life to men.

Slumber and sloth drive far away;

Earlier arise to greet the day;

And ere its dawn in Heav­en un­fold

The heart’s de­sire to God be told.

Unto our pray­er that He at­tend

His all cre­at­ing pow­er ex­tend

And still re­new us

lest we miss

Through earth­ly stain our heav’n­ly bliss.

That us

who here this day re­pair

To keep the apos­tles’ time of pray­er

And hymn the qui­et hours of morn

With bless­èd gifts He may ad­orn.

For this

Re­deem­er

Thee we pray

That Thou wilt wash our sins away

And of Thy lov­ing­kind­ness grant

Whate’er of good our spir­its want.

That ex­iles here awhile in flesh

Some ear­nest may our souls re­fresh

Of that pure life for which we long

Some fore­taste of the heav’n­ly song.

O Fa­ther

that we ask be done

Through Je­sus Christ

Thine on­ly Son;

Who

with the Ho­ly Ghost and Thee

Doth live and reign eter­nal­ly.