The Dawn of God's Dear Sabbath

The Dawn of God's Dear Sabbath

Text written in 1866 by Ada Cross (1844-1926)

Sung to ST. GEORGE'S, BOLTON, composed in 1875 by J. Walch (1837-1901)

Hebrews 4:10, 11 For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

V. 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.

V. 2 Lord, we would bring for offering,

Though marred with earthly soil,

A week of earnest labor,

Of steady, faithful toil,

Fair fruits of self-denial,

Of strong, deep love to Thee,

Fostered by Thine own Spirit,

In true humility.

V. 3 And we would bring our burden

Of sinful thought and deed,

In Thy pure presence kneeling,

From bondage to be freed,

Our heart's most bitter sorrow

For all Thy work undone--

So many talents wasted!

So few bright laurels won!

V. 4 And with that sorrow mingling,

A steadfast faith, and sure,

And love so deep and fervent,

For Thee to make it pure,

In Thy dear presence finding

The pardon that we need,

And then the peace so lasting--

Celestial peace indeed.