As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out My sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Ezekiel 34:12
Words: Annie R. Smith, 1851.
Music: Greenville, from the opera Le Devin du Village (The Village Soothsayer), by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1752 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Long upon the mountains weary,
Have the scattered flock been torn;
Dark the desert paths, and dreary;
Grievous trials have they borne.
Now the gathering call is sounding,
Solemn in its warning voice;
Union, faith, and love, abounding,
Bid the little flock rejoice.
Now the light of truth they’re seeking,
In its onward track pursue;
All the ten commandments keeping,
They are holy, just and true.
On the words of life they’re feeding,
Precious to their taste so sweet;
All their Master’s precepts heeding,
Bowing humbly at His feet.
In that light of light and beauty,
In that golden city fair,
Soon its pearly gates they’ll enter,
And of all its glories share.
There, divine the soul’s expansions;
Free from sin, and death, and pain;
Tears will never dim those mansions
Where the saints immortal reign.
Soon He comes! with clouds descending;
All His saints, entombed arise;
The redeemed, in anthems blending,
Shout their victory thro’ the skies.
O, we long for Thine appearing;
Come, O Savior, quickly come!
Blessèd hope! our spirits cheering,
Take Thy ransomed children home.