Scripture Verse

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the Lord, keep not silence. Isaiah 62:6

Introduction

portrait
Philip Doddridge
1702–1751

Words: Phi­lip Dodd­ridge, 1736. Dod­dridge wrote this hymn at Flore, North­amp­ton­shire, Eng­land, prob­ab­ly for the or­di­na­tion of a min­is­ter there.

Music: Cor­nell John H. Cor­nell (1828–1894) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

Lyrics

Let Zion’s watchmen all awake
And take the alarm they give;
Now let them from the mouth of God
Their awful charge receive.

’Tis not a cause of small import
The pastor’s care demands;
But what might fill an angel’s heart
And filled a Sav­ior’s hands.

They watch for souls, for which the Lord
Did heav’nly bliss forego;
For souls, which must for ever live,
In raptures, or in woe.

All to the great tribunal haste
The account to render there;
And shouldst Thou strictly mark our faults
Lord, where should we appear?

May they that Je­sus, whom they preach,
Their own Re­deem­er see;
And watch Thou daily o’er their souls,
That they may watch for Thee.