Daybreak

Until the day break, and the shadows flee away. Song of Solomon 4:6.     Gleaming softly, silvery-faint,     Heralded by chanticleer,     Merging from night's shadowy taint,     New day of the passing year!     Born to bless or born to blight,     Born for you and born for me,     Leaving, ere it take its flight,     Impress on eternity!     'Tis a gift from God's own hand.     On its pure unsullied page     Let us write at his command     What will bless our pilgrimage.     True repentance giveth joy     To the angels in the sky.     What could be more blest employ     Than to cheer the choirs on high?     Deeds of patience, deeds of love,     Banishing all hate and guile     These will steer toward heaven above,     These will make the angels smile.     May this child of time unite     Earth and heaven in blest accord,     Heathen nations see the light     From the cross of Christ our Lord.     Coming is the glad daybreak,     The prophetic jubilee;     Sin will then all hearts forsake,     Then will all the shadows flee.