God of Light

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God of light and matchless splendor

Author: F. E. Belden
Tune: RATHBUN
Published in 7 hymnals

Piano/Organ
	Toccata on In the Cross of Christ I Glor…

Representative Text

1 God of light and matchless splendor,
Feeble tho' the praise we bring,
Let thy Spirit touch and tender
Ev'ry heart as now we sing.

2 Heav'n above cannot contain thee;
At thy presence earth would flee;
And tho' ev'ry sin doth pain thee;
Still thy mercy spareth me!

3 Grateful praise my tongue shall offer,
'Neath thy smile or 'neath thy rod;
Take the humble gift I proffer,
Heart, and mind, and strength, O God!

Source: Christ in Song: for all religious services nearly one thousand best gospel hymns, new and old with responsive scripture readings (Rev. and Enl.) #442

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Author: F. E. Belden

Belden was born in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1858. He began writing music in his late teenage years after moving to California with his family. For health reasons he later moved to Colorado. He returned to Battle Creek with his wife in the early 1880s, and there he became involved in Adventist Church publishing. F. E. Belden wrote many hymn tunes, gospel songs, and related texts in the early years of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Belden was able to rapidly write both music and poetry together which enabled him to write a song to fit a sermon while it was still being delivered. He also wrote songs for evangelist Billy Sunday. Though Belden’s later years were marred by misunderstandings with the church leadership over his royal… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	God of light and matchless splendor
Title:	God of Light
Author:	F. E. Belden
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Tune

RATHBUN

This story is associated with the writing of RATHBUN: One Sunday in 1849 Ithamar Conkey (b. Shutesbury, MA, 1815; d. Elizabeth, NJ, 1867) walked out of the morning service at Central Baptist Church, Norwich, Connecticut, where he was choir director and organist, frustrated because only one soprano f…

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[God of light and matchless splendor]

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