Scripture Verse

The Gospel must…be published among all nations. Mark 13:10

Introduction

Words: Tho­mas Mor­ell, in the Ev­an­ge­li­cal Ma­ga­zine, De­cem­ber 1818, page 544, alt. Hymns Com­posed for a Miss­ion­ary Or­di­na­tion Ser­vice. Sung at the Rev. Mr. Mor­ell’s Cha­pel, St. Ne­ots, Oct. 28, 1818, at the or­di­na­tion of Mr. C. Mault, Mis­sion­ary to In­dia. The hymn ap­peared in Jo­si­ah Con­der’s 1836 Con­gre­ga­tion­al Hymn Book, and lat­er in oth­er Col­lect­ions.

Music: Far and Near (Spa­zier) Jo­hann K. Spa­zier (1761–1805) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know when the mu­sic was writ­ten, or where to get a good pic­ture of Spa­zier or Mor­ell (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Go, and the Sav­ior’s grace pro­claim,
Ye mes­sen­gers of God;
Go, pub­lish, thro’ Im­ma­nu­el’s name,
Salvation bought with blood.

What tho’ your ar­du­ous track may lie
Thro’ re­gions dark as death;
What tho’ your faith and zeal to try,
Grim pe­rils stalk your path:

Yet, with de­ter­mined cour­age, go,
And, armed with pow­er di­vine,
Your God will need­ful aid be­stow,
And on your la­bors shine.

He who has called you to the war
Will re­com­pense your pains;
Before Mes­si­ah’s con­quer­ing car,
The mount­ains sink to plains.

Shrink not tho’ earth and hell op­pose,
But plead your Mas­ter’s cause;
Nor doubt that e’en your migh­ty foes
Shall bow be­fore His cross.