Scripture Verse

The martyrs of Jesus. Revelation 17:6

Introduction

portrait
Percy Dearmer
1867–1936

Words: Un­known au­thor, 10th Cen­tu­ry (Mar­tyr Dei qui uni­cum). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Per­cy Dear­mer in The Eng­lish Hym­nal (Lon­don: Ox­ford Uni­ver­si­ty Press, 1906), num­ber 180.

Music: White­hall, me­lo­dy by Hen­ry Lawes (1596–1662) (🔊 pdf nwc).

illustration
Martyrdom of St. Stephen
Gustave Doré
1832–1883

Lyrics

Martyr of God, whose strength was steeled
To follow close God’s only Son,
Well didst thou brave thy battlefield,
And well thy heavenly bliss was won!

Now join thy prayers with ours, who pray
That God may pardon us and bless;
For prayer keeps evil’s plague away,
And draws from life its weariness.

Long, long ago, were loosed the chains
That held thy body once in thrall;
For us how many a bond remains!
O Love of God release us all.

All praise to God the Father be,
All praise to Thee, eternal Son;
All praise, O Holy Ghost, to Thee
While never ending ages run.