Seasoned Veracity

Let There Be Light

Thou, whose almighty Word

Chaos and darkness heard,

And took their flight;

Hear us, we humbly pray,

And, where the Gospel’s day

Sheds not its glorious ray,

Let there be light!

 

Spirit of truth and love,

Life giving, holy Dove,

Speed forth Thy flight;

Move on the water’s face

Bearing the lamp of grace,

And, in earth’s darkest place,

Let there be light!

 

Blessed and holy Three,

Glorious Trinity,

Wisdom, love, might!

Boundless as ocean’s tide,

Rolling in fullest pride,

Through the world far and wide,

Let there be light!

 

 -- John Marriott

 

Before the Throne of God Above

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.

Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace.
One with Himself I cannot die,
My soul is purchased by His blood.
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!

 -- Charitie Lees Bancroft

 

God's Patient Stet

Shall I love God for causing me to be? / I was mere utterance; shall these words love me?

Yet when I caused his work to jar and stammer, / And one free subject loosened all his grammar,

I love him that he did not in a rage / Once and forever rule me off the page,

But, thinking I might come to please him yet, / Crossed out delete and wrote his patient stet.

        -- Richard Wilbur