Scripture Verse

This Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations. Matthew 24:14

Introduction

portrait
Samuel F. Smith (1808–1895)

Words: Sam­uel F. Smith, The Psalm­ist (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Gould, Ken­dall & Lin­coln, 1843), num­ber 892.

Music: De­di­ca­tion (Fos­ter) Myles B. Fos­ter, 1890 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Onward speed thy conquering flight;
Angel, onward speed;
Cast abroad thy radiant light,
Bid the shades recede;
Tread the idols in the dust,
Heathen fanes destroy,
Spread the Gos­pel’s holy trust,
Spread the Gos­pel’s joy.

Onward speed thy conquering flight;
Angel, onward haste;
Quickly on each mountain’s height
Be thy standard placed;
Let thy blissful tidings float
Far o’er vale and hill,
Till the sweetly echoing note
Every bosom thrill.

Onward speed thy conquering flight;
Angel, onward fly;
Long has been the reign of night;
Bring the morning nigh:
’Tis to thee the heathen lift
Their imploring wail;
Bear them Hea­ven’s holy gift,
Ere their courage fail.

Onward speed thy conquering flight;
Angel, onward speed;
Morning bursts upon our sight—
’Tis the time decreed:
Jesus now His kingdom takes,
Thrones and empires fall,
And the joyous song awakes,
God is all in all.