Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Matthew 28:19–20
Words: William B. Collyer, Hymns Partly Collected and Partly Original (London: 1812), number 965.
Music: Arnheim Samuel Holyoke, 1785. Appeared in Harmonia Americana (Boston, Massachusetts: 1791) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Holyoke (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Assembled at Thy great command,
Before Thy face, dread King, we stand;
The voice that marshaled every star
Has called Thy people from afar.
Constrained by love to Him who died
Thy churches pour th’o’erflowing tide;
Midst congregated thousands here,
In all Thine ancient power appear!
We meet through distant lands to spread
The truth for which the martyrs bled;
Along the line—to either pole—
The thunder of Thy praise to roll.
First, bow our hearts beneath Thy sway,
Then, give Thy growing empire way
O’er wastes of sin, o’er fields of blood,
Till all mankind shall be subdued.
Our prayers assist—accept our praise—
Our hopes revive—our courage raise—
Our counsels aid—and oh! impart
The single eye—the faithful heart!
Forth with Thy chosen heralds come;
Recall the wandering spirit home;
From Zion’s mount send forth the sound,
To spread the spacious world around.