Oh how fair that
morning broke,
When in Eden man awoke!
Beast and bird and
insect bright
Reveled in the gladsome
light;
God looked down from
Heav’n above,
All was life and joy
and love.
Ah! the
doleful change when sin
Darkly, subtly entered
in!
War and pestilence and
dearth
Mar and sadden God’s
fair earth;
Human sorrow fills the
air;
Death is reigning
everywhere.
Yet rejoice; for God
on high
Hath not left His world
to die!
God’s dear Son, with
dying breath,
Broke the power of sin
and death;
Christ the Tempter
overthrew,
Christ is making all
things new.
Lord, in me be sin
subdued,
So may I with heart
renewed,
Fight the fight and run
the race,
Work in my appointed
place,
Waiting for the glad
new birth
Of Thy perfect Heav’n
and earth.
