O'er the Gloomy Hills of Darkness

Melody - "Guide Me", George W. Warren, 1884

William Williams, 1772

O'er the gloomy hills of darkness,
Cheered by no celestial ray,
Sun of Righteousness, arising,
Bring the bright, the glorious day.
Let the morning
Of Thy blessed Gospel dawn.

2. Kingdoms wide that sit in darkness,
Grant them, Lord, the glorious light;
And from eastern coast to western
May the morning chase the night
And redemption,
Freely purchased, win the day!

3. Fly abroad, eternal Gospel;
Win and conquer, never cease.
May Thy lasting, wide dominions
Multiply and still increase!
May Thy scepter
Sway th' enlightened world around!

4. Let the Indian, let the Negro,
Let the rude barbarian see
That divine and glorious conquest,
Once obtained on Calvary;
Let the Gospel
Wide resound from pole to pole.

5. May the glorious day approaching
Thine eternal love proclaim,
And the everlasting Gospel
Spread abroad Thy holy name
O'er the borders
Of the great Emmanuel's land.

Originally in seven verses. The first three are usually the only ones found in hymnals. As to the order of the original seven verses, I don't know. As to the "gloomy hills", these are most likely the Black Mountain in Carmanthenshire, which can be seen from the author's home of Pantecelyn.

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