Scripture Verse

Go…teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Matthew 28:20

Introduction

portrait
John Rippon
1751–1836

Words: Ano­ny­mous. Ap­peared in A Se­lect­ion of Hymns from the Best Au­thors, by John Rip­pon, 15th edi­tion, 1800, num­ber 418. Re­flect­ing the hymn’s Brit­ish source, the last line of the third verse was orig­in­al­ly To this dis­tin­guish’d is­land came.

Music: Whit­by Ab­bey R. Frank Leh­man, 1901 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Leh­man (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Go, said the voice of heavenly love,
My Gos­pel preach to every land;
Lo! I am with you to the end;
Observe and follow My command.

With joy the first disciples heard,
And told the ever gracious news
As they from Him received in charge,
First, to the unbelieving Jews:

Then to the Gentiles, far and near,
Published sal­va­tion in His name,
And the glad tidings of His grace
To many far flung islands came.

But ah! to spread their sacred theme,
How few have our attempts been found!
What heathen lands from us have heard
The glo­ri­ous heart reviving sound?

To us their duty they bequeathed;
And left the promise on record;
And had our ardor equaled theirs,
The same had been our blest reward.

We too had multitudes beheld
Forsake the gods their hands had made,
And the bright beam of heavenly day
Their yet benighted realms pervade.

Savior divine, our guilt forgive!
Inspire our souls with warmer zeal!
Pour out Thy Spi­rit from on high,
And let us all His influence feel!