Let heav’n arise, let earth appear, said the Almighty Lord: The heav’n arose, the earth appeared, at his creating word. | Thick darkness brooded o’er the deep: God said, ‘Let there be light:’ The light shone forth with smiling ray, and scattered ancient night. | He bade the clouds ascend on high; the clouds ascend, and bear A wat’ry treasure to the sky, and float upon the air. | The liquid element below was gathered by his hand; The rolling seas together flow, and leave the solid land. | With herbs, and plants, and fruitful trees, the new-formed globe he crowned, Ere there was rain to bless the soil, or sun to warm the ground. | Then high in heav’n’s resplendent arch he placed two orbs of light, He set the sun to rule the day, the moon to rule the night. | Next, from the deep, th’ Almighty King did vital beings frame; Fowls of the air of every wing, and fish of every name. | To all the various brutal tribes he gave their wondrous birth; At once the lion and the worm sprung from the teeming earth. | Then, chief o’er all his works below, at last was Adam made; His Maker’s image blessed his soul, and glory crowned his head. | Fair in th’ Almighty Maker’s eye the whole creation stood. He viewed the fabric he had raised; his word pronounced it good. | |