“Let there be _light_!” The Eternal spoke, And from the abyss where darkness rode The earliest dawn of nature broke, And _light_ around creation flowed: The glad earth smiled to see the day, The first-born day come blushing in; The young day smiled to shed its ray Upon a world untouched by sin. “Let there be _light_!” O’er heaven and earth, The God who first the day-beam poured, Uttered again His fiat forth, And shed the gospel’s _light_ abroad; And, like the dawn, its cheering rays On rich and poor were meant to fall, Inspiring their Redeemer’s praise, In lowly cot, and lordly hall. Then come, when in the orient first Flushes the signal-_light_ for prayer; Come with the earliest beams that burst From God’s bright throne of glory there; Come, kneel to Him who through the night Hath watched above thy sleeping soul; To Him whose mercies, like His _light_, Are shed abroad from pole to pole. _Charles F. Hoffman._ Then moved upon the waveless deep The quickening Spirit of the Lord; And broken was its pulseless sleep Before the Everlasting Word! “Let there be _Light_!” and listening earth, With tree, and plant, and flowery sod, “In the beginning” sprang to birth, Obedient to the voice of God. _W. H Burleigh._ Heard as each morn relumes the eastern cloud, Thy voice of holiest comfort cries aloud, Bidding us rise, the night-like past above, And soar on morning’s wing to thoughts of _light_ and love! _Anon._ LORD. The _Lord_ shall reign for ever and ever.--Exodus, xv. 18. Hear, O _Lord_, and have mercy upon me: _Lord_, be thou my helper.--Psalm xxx. 10. By the word of the _Lord_ were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.--Psalm xxxiii. 6. Exalt the _Lord_ our God, and worship at his holy hill, for the _Lord_ our God is holy.--Psalm xcix. 9. And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of many thunderings, saying. Alleluia: for the _Lord_ God omnipotent reigneth.--Revelation, xix. 6.