Thanks for being a Hymnary.org user. You are one of more than 10 million people from 200-plus countries around the world who have benefitted from the Hymnary website in 2024! If you feel moved to support our work today with a gift of any amount and a word of encouragement, we would be grateful.

You can donate online at our secure giving site.

Or, if you'd like to make a gift by check, please make it out to CCEL and mail it to:
Christian Classics Ethereal Library, 3201 Burton Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
And may the promise of Advent be yours this day and always.

'Twas the eternal word that spake

'Twas the eternal word that spake

Published in 5 hymnals

Representative Text

1 'Twas the eternal word that spake,
And said, "Let there be light,"
It was, and at his high command,
Sprang from the womb of night.

2 He bids the day-spring know its place,
And guides the rising sun:
All nature owns her sovereign Lord,
And what he wills is done.

3 Should he forbid the sun to rise,
And endless darkness reign:
Justice would silence every mouth,
Nor let a thought complain.

4 Thus, had the Sun of Righteousness,
Never arose and shone,
The frowning heavens had flashed with wrath,
Fro crimes which we have done.

5 Then had salvation ne'er appeared,
Nor angels sung of peace;
The anthem never had begun,
Which now will never cease.

6 But thanks to God, the natural Sun,
Does light and heat convey,
The Sun of Righteousness will shine
An everlasting day.

The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the most approved authors, 1799

Text Information

First Line: 'Twas the eternal word that spake
Meter: 8.6.8.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 5 of 5)
Page Scan

Hymns for Family Worship, with Prayers for Every Day in the Week (2nd ed.) #49

TextPage Scan

The Hartford Selection of Hymns from the Most Approved Authors #CCCXV

TextPage Scan

The Hartford Selection of Hymns #CCCXV

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.