Wood, Charles: O Thou Central Orb


O Thou the central orb (1915)

O thou, the central orb of righteous love,
Pure beam of the most high, eternal light
Of this our wintry world, thy radiance bright
Awakes new joy in faith, hope soars above.

Come, quickly come, and let thy glory shine,
Gilding our darksome heaven with rays divine;
Thy saints with holy lustre round thee move,
As stars about thy throne, set in the height
Of God’s ordaining counsel, as thy sight
Gives measur’d grace to each, thy power to prove.

Let thy bright beams disperse the gloom of sin,
Our nature all shall feel eternal day,
In fellowship with thee, transforming clay
To souls erewhile unclean, now pure within. Amen.

Words: H.R. Bramley (1833–1917)
Music: Charles Wood (1866–1926)