The Dawn Of God’s Dear Sabbath Hymn Lyrics

1

The dawn of God’s dear Sabbath

Breaks o’er the earth again.

As some sweet summer morning

After a night of pain :

It comes as cooling showers

To some exhausted land,

As shade of clustered palm trees

‘Mid weary wastes of sand.

2

O day, when earthly sorrow

Is merged in heavenly joy,

And trial changed to blessing

That foes may not destroy ;

When want is turned to fulness,

And weariness to rest ;

And pain to wondrous rapture,

Upon the Saviour’s breast.

3

Lord, we would bring for offering,

Though marred with earthly soil,

A week of earnest labour,

Of steady, faithful toil ;

Fair fruits of self-denial,

Of strong, deep love to Thee,

Fostered by Thine own Spirit

In our humility.

4

And we would bring our burden

Of sinful thought and deed,

In Thy pure presence kneeling,

From bondage to be freed ;

Our hearts’ most bitter sorrow

For all Thy work undone,——

So many talents wasted,

So few bright laurels won !

5

So be it, Lord, for ever :

Oh, may we evermore,

In Jesus’ holy presence,

His blessed name adore :

Upon His peaceful Sabbath,

Within His temple walls,

Type of the stainless worship

In Zion’s golden halls ;

6

So that in joy and gladness

We reach that home at last ;

When life’s short week of sorrow,

And sin, and strife is past ;

When angel-hands have gathered

The fair ripe fruit for Thee,

O Father, Lord, Redeemer,

Most Holy Trinity.