The race that long in darkness pined,
Have seen a glorious light;
The people dwell in day, who dwelt
In death’s surrounding night.
To hail Thy rise, Thou better Sun,
The gathering nations come,
Joyous as when the reapers bear
The harvest treasures home.
For Thou our burden hast removed,
And quelled the oppressor’s sway,
Quick as the slaughtered squadrons fell
In Midian’s evil day.
To us a Child of Hope is born,
To us a Son is given,
Him shall the tribes of earth obey,
Him all the hosts of heaven.
His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
Forevermore adored,
The Wonderful, the Counselor,
The great and mighty Lord.
His power increasing still shall spread,
His reign no end shall know:
Justice shall guard His throne above,
And peace abound below.
Written in 1781 by John Morrison who was a parish priest back in the late 1700's.
Beyond that I can find NOTHING more about this hymn. :) I did find this one post though where the author pointed out the beauty of the verses and how they have been used in other hymns. Kinda neat that eh? :)