Scripture Verse

In His love and mercy He redeemed them. Isaiah 63:9

Introduction

Words: Will­iam C. Bry­ant, 1840. Bry­ant wrote these words for a mis­sion­ary an­ni­ver­sa­ry. They were print­ed pri­vate­ly in a small book of 19 hymns in 1854.

Music: Lou­van Vir­gil C. Tay­lor, Cho­ral An­thems (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: 1850) (🔊 pdf nwc)

Alternate Tunes:

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

portrait
William C. Bryant (1794–1878)

Lyrics

Look from Thy sphere of endless day,
O God of mercy and of might,
In pity look on those who stray,
Benighted in this land of light.

In peopled vale, in lonely glen,
In crowded mart by stream or sea,
How many of the sons of man
Hear not the message sent from Thee!

Send forth Thy heralds, Lord, to call
The thoughtless young, the hardened old,
A wandering flock, and bring them all
To the good Shepherd’s peaceful fold.

Send them Thy mighty Word to speak,
Till faith shall dawn and doubt depart,
To awe the bold, to stay the weak,
And bind and heal the broken heart.

Then all these wastes, a dreary scene,
On which with sorrowing eyes we gaze,
Shall grow with living waters green,
And lift to Hea­ven the voice of praise.