Number One
From Greenland’s icy mountains,
From India’s coral strand,
Where Afric’s sunny fountains
Roll down their golden sand,
From many an ancient river,
From many a palmy plain,
They call us to deliver
Their land from error’s chain.
Can we, whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Can we to men benighted
The lamp of life deny?
Salvation, O salvation!
The joyful sound proclaim,
Till each remotest nation
Has learnt Messiah’s name.
Waft, waft, ye winds, his story,
And you, ye waters, roll,
Till, like a sea of glory,
It spreads from pole to pole;
Till over our ransomed nature
The lamb for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator,
In bliss returns to reign.
Reginald Heber, 1819
1943 Episcopal Hymnal, 254.
Number Two
Awake, thou Spirit of the watchmen,
Who never held their peace by day or night,
Contending from the walls of Sion
Against the foe, confiding in they might.
Throughout the world their cry is ringing still,
And brining peoples to thy holy will.
O Lord, now let thy fire enkindle
Our heart, that everywhere its flame may go,
And spread the glory of redemption
Till all the world they saving grace shall know
At harvest, Lord, look down on us and view
How white the fields; the laborers, how few!
The prayer thy Son himself hath taught us
The offer now to thee at his command;
Behold and hearken, Lord; thy children
Implore thee for the souls of every land;
With yearning hearts they make their ardent plea;
O Hear us, Lord, and say “Thus shall it be.”
Send forth, O Lord, thy strong Evangel
By many messengers, all hearts to win;
Make hast to help us in our weakness;
Break down the realm of Satan, death, and sin.
The circle of the earth shall then proclaim
They kingdom, and the glory of thy Name. Amen
K.H. Bogatzky, 1749
1943 Episcopal Hymnal, 255