IT was hard to discourage Fanny Crosby. Joy was a characteristic of her life. When English hymnwriter Frances Havergal asked someone about Crosby, she received this reply,

"She is a blind lady whose heart can see splendidly in the sunshine of God's love."

Crosby herself acknowledged,

"Darkness may throw a shadow over my outer vision, but there is no cloud that can keep the sunlight of hope from a trustful soul."

Probably written in 1872, this song was taken to England by Ira Sankey, who led the singing for D.L.Moody's evangelistic campaigns.

The hymn became immediately popular in England, but was published in only a few American hymnals until Billy Graham rediscovered the song during his 1952 British crusade.

It then became as popular in America as it had been in England.

To God be the glory---great things He hath done!

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son, Who yielded His life an atonement for sin, And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father through Jesus the Son, And give Him the glory---great things He hath done!

O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood! To ev'ry believer the promise of God; The vilest offender who truely believes, That moment from Jesus a pardon receives.

Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done, And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son; But purer, and higher, and greater will be Our wonder, our transport, when Jesus we see.