Scripture Verse

Who do people say the Son of Man is? They replied Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets. But what about you? He asked. Who do you say I am? Simon Peter answered, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Matthew 16:18

Introduction

portrait
John B. Dykes (1823–1876)

Words: S. Ralph Har­low, 1931.

Music: Blair­gow­rie John B. Dykes, 1872 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
S. Ralph Harlow (1885–1972)

Lyrics

O young and fear­less Pro­phet
Of an­cient Ga­li­lee,
Thy life is still a sum­mons
To serve hu­ma­ni­ty;
To make our thoughts and act­ions
Less prone to please the crowd,
To stand with hum­ble cour­age
For truth with hearts un­cowed.

We mar­vel at the pur­pose
That held Thee to Thy course
While ev­er on the hill­top
Before Thee loomed the cross;
Thy stead­fast face set for­ward
Where love and du­ty shone,
While we be­tray so quick­ly
And leave Thee there alone.

O help us stand un­swerv­ing
Against war’s bloody way,
Where hate and lust and false­hood
Hold back Christ’s ho­ly sway;
Forbid false love of coun­try
That blinds us to His call,
Who lifts above the na­tions
The uni­ty of all.

Stir up in us a pro­test
Against our greed for wealth,
While oth­ers starve and hun­ger
And plead for work and health;
Where homes with lit­tle child­ren
Cry out for lack of bread,
Who live their years sore bur­dened
Beneath a gloomy dread.

Create in us the splen­dor
That dawns when hearts are kind,
That knows not race nor sta­tion
As boun­da­ries of the mind;
That learns to val­ue beau­ty,
In heart, or brain, or soul,
And longs to bind God’s child­ren
Into one per­fect whole.

O young and fear­less Prophet,
We need Thy pre­sence here,
Amid our pride and glo­ry
To see Thy face ap­pear;
Once more to hear Thy chal­lenge
Above our noi­sy day,
Again to lead us for­ward
Along God’s ho­ly way.