1 Begin the day with God!
He is thy sun and day;
His is the radiance of thy dawn,
To Him address thy lay.
2 Sing a new song at morn!
Join the glad woods and hills;
Join the fresh winds and seas and plains,
Join the bright flowers and rills.
3 Sing thy first song to God
Not to thy fellow man;
Not to the creatures of His hand,
But to the glorious One.
4 Awake, cold lips, and sing!
Arise, dull knees, and pray;
Lift up, O man, thy heart and eyes;
Brush slothfulness away.
5 Look up, beyond these clouds!
Thither thy pathway lies;
Mount up, away, and linger not,
Thy goal is yonder skies.
6 Cast every weight aside!
Do battle with each sin;
Fight with the faithless world without,
The faithless heart within.
7 Take thy first meal with God!
He is thy heavenly food;
Feed with and on Him; He with thee
Will feast in brotherhood.
8 Take thy first walk with God!
Let Him go forth with thee;
By stream or sea or mountain path,
Seek still His company.
9 Thy first transaction be
With God Himself above;
So shall thy business prosper well,
And all the day be love.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #11882
Horatius Bonar was born at Edinburgh, in 1808. His education was obtained at the High School, and the University of his native city. He was ordained to the ministry, in 1837, and since then has been pastor at Kelso. In 1843, he joined the Free Church of Scotland. His reputation as a religious writer was first gained on the publication of the "Kelso Tracts," of which he was the author. He has also written many other prose works, some of which have had a very large circulation. Nor is he less favorably known as a religious poet and hymn-writer. The three series of "Hymns of Faith and Hope," have passed through several editions.
--Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >
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