Father of light, conduct my feet

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Father of light, conduct my feet

Author: Christopher Smart
Tune: LEICESTER (Hurst)
Published in 56 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

Father of light! conduct our feet
Through life’s dark, dangerous road;
Let each advancing step still bring
Us nearer to our God.

Let heaven-eyed prudence be our guide;
And when we go astray,
Recall our feet from folly’s paths
To wisdom’s better way.

That heavenly wisdom from above
Abundantly impart;
And let it guard, and guide, and warm,
And penetrate each heart;

Till it shall lead us to Thyself,
Fountain of bliss and love!
And all our darkness be dispersed
In endless light above.

Source: A Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion (15th ed.) #37

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Author: Christopher Smart

Smart, Christophe, M.A., was born at Shipburn, Kent, in 1722, and educated at Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, where he gained the Seatonian prize for five years, four of which were in succession, (B.A. 1747.) He removed to London in 1753, and gave some attention to literature: but neglecting both his property and his constitution, he became poor and insane. He died in the King's Bench, 1771. His Poems were published in 2 vols. in 1771. From that work "Father of light conduct my feet" (Divine Guidance), and "I sing of God the mighty Source" [God the Author of All), have been taken. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907) Go to person page >

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