The race that long in darkness pined. J. Morison. [Epiphany.] This fine hymn appeared as No. 19 in the Draft Scottish Translations and Paraphrases, 1781, as a version of Isaiah ix. 2-8.
The revised text of 1781 is included in full and unaltered as No. 35 in Lord Selborne's Book of Praise Hymnal, 1868, and slightly altered as No. 47 in the American Episcopal Collection, 1826, and as No. 80 in the Anglican Hymn Book, 1871. Omitting stanzas iii. it has been included in the American Baptist Psalmist, 1843, Kennedy, 1863, the Baptist Hymnal, 1879, and other collections. It is also found in the following forms:—
1. The race which long in darkness pined. Pratt's Collection, 1829; Liverpool Collection, 1841.
2. The race that long in darkness lay. Urwick's Collection, 1829.
3. The race that long in darkness walk'd. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge Hymns, 1852; Common Praise, 1819, &c.
4. The people that in darkness sat. A greatly altered version by the compilers of Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861, (No. 61, with an added doxology). This has been included in Barry's Hymnal, 1867, and in the Hymnary, 1812. In America it has appeared in the Evangelical Hymnal, New York, 1880.
5. The race that long in darkness sat. Thring's Collection 1882, No. 146, the revised text of 1781 slightly altered and a doxology by Mr. Thring added; with stanzas ii. 1. 3, stanzas iii., and stanzas iv. 1. 1 as in Hymns Ancient & Modern.
6. To hail thy rising, Sun of life. American Protestant Episcopal Hymnal, 1871, No. 27, beginning with stanzas ii. altered.
7. To us a Child of hope is born. Stanzas iv.-vi. included in England in Curwen's and various other children's hymn-books, and in America in the Andover Sabbath Hymn Book 1858 ; Robinson's Songs for the Sanctuary, 1865; Dutch Reformed Hymn Book, 1869; Baptist Praise Book 1871, and various others.
8. Lo! unto us a child is born. Stanzas iv., v. altered in Mercer's Church Psalter & Hymn Book, Ox. edition, 1864, No. 417.
The text should also be compared with Watts's Hymns, 1709, Bk. 1, No. 13, "The lands that long in darkness lay;" and "The people that in darkness walk'd," in Miss Leeson's Paraphrases & Hymns for Congregational Singing, 1853, No. 45. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.]
--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
