PREAD, O spread, Thou mighty word,
Spread the kingdom of the Lord,
Wheresoe'er His breath has given
Life to beings born for heaven.
Tell them how the Father's will
Made the world, and keeps it still;
How He sent His Son to save
All who help and comfort crave.
Tell of our Redeemer's love,
Who for ever doth remove,
By His holy Sacrifice,
All the guilt that on us lies.
Tell them of the Spirit given
Now, to guide us up to heaven,
Strong and holy, just and true,
Working both to will and do.
Word of life, most pure and strong,
Lo! for Thee the nations long :
Spread, till from its dreary night
All the world awakes to light.
Up! the ripening fields ye see;
Mighty shall the harvest be;
But the reapers still are few,
Great the work they have to do.
Lord of harvest, let there be
Joy and strength to work for Thec,
Till the nations far and near
See Thy light, and learn Thy fear.
HOU, Whose Almighty Word
Chaos and darkness heard,
And took their flight,
Hear us, we humbly pray
And, where the Gospel-day
Sheds not its glorious ray,
Let there be light!
Thou, Who didst come to bring
On Thy redeeming wing
Healing and sight,
Health to the sick in mind,
Sight to the inly blind,
Oh! now to all mankind
Let there be light!
Spirit of truth and love,
Life-giving Holy Dove,
Speed forth Thy flight ;
Move on the waters' face,
Bearing the lamp of grace,
And in earth's darkest place
Let there be light!
Holy and Blessed Three,
Glorious Trinity,
Wisdom, Love, Might,
Boundless as ocean's tide,
Rolling in fullest pride,
Through the earth, far and wide,
Let there be light!
HILLS of the north, rejoice;
River and mountain-spring,
Hark to the advent voice;
Valley and lowland, sing;
Though absent long, your Lord is nigh,
He judgment brings and victory.
Isles of the southern seas,
your coral caves
Pent be each warring breeze,
Lulled be your restless waves:
He comes to reign with boundless sway,
And make your wastes His great highway.
Lands of the east, awake,
Soon shall your sons be free,
The sleep of ages break,
And rise to liberty :
On your far hills, long cold and grey,
Has dawned the everlasting day.
Shores of the utmost west,
Ye that have waited long,
Unvisited, unblest,
Break forth to swelling song:
High raise the note, that Jesus died,
Yet lives and reigns, the Crucified.
Shout, while ye journey home;
Songs be in every mouth;
Lo, from the north we come,
From east, and west, and south:
City of God, the bond are free;
We come to live and reign in thee,
APTAINS of the saintly band,
Lights who lighten every land,
Princes who with Jesus dwell,
Judges of His Israel,
On the nations sunk in night
'Ye have shed the Gospel light;
Falsehood flies before the day;
Truth is shining on our way.
Not by warrior's spear and sword,
Not by art of human word,
Preaching but the Cross of shame,
Rebel hearts for Christ ye tame.
Earth, that long in sin and pain
Groaned in Satan's deadly chain,
Now to serve its God is free
In the law of liberty.
Distant lands with one acclaim
Tell the honour of your name,
Who, wherever man has trod,
Teach the mysteries of God.
Glory to the Three in One
While eternal ages run,
Who from deepest shades of night
Called us to His glorious light.
Go, labour on; spend, and be spent,
Thy joy to do the Father's will;
It is the way the Master went;
Should not the servant tread it still?
Go, labour on; 'tis not for nought;
Thy earthly loss is heavenly gain ;
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
The Master praises; what are men ?
Go, labour on; your hands are weak,
Your knees are faint, your soul cast down;
Yet falter not; the prize you seek
Is near, a kingdom and a crown.
Go, labour on while it is day,
The world's dark night is hastening on; Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away : With strong great wrestlings souls are won.
Toil on, faint not, keep watch and
Be wise the erring soul to win;
Go forth into the world's highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in.
Toil on, and in thy toil rejoice;
For toil comes rest, for exile home;
Soon shalt thou hear the Bridegroom's voice,
The midnight cry, 'Behold, I come."
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