Scripture Verse

Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations…and lo, I am with you always. Matthew 28:19–20

Introduction

portrait
Thomas Kelly (1769–1855)

Words: Tho­mas Kel­ly, Hymns on Va­ri­ous Pass­ag­es of Scrip­ture 1820 edi­tion.

Music: Zion Tho­mas Hast­ings, 1830 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Thomas Hastings (1784–1872)

Lyrics

Speed Thy servants, Sav­ior, speed them;
Thou art Lord of winds and waves;
They were bound, but Thou hast freed them;
Now they go to free the slaves:
Be Thou with them,
’Tis Thine arm alone that saves.
Be Thou with them,
’Tis Thine arm alone that saves.

Friends, and home, and all for­sak­ing,
Lord they go at Thy com­mand,
As their stay Thy pro­mise tak­ing,
While they traverse sea and land:
O be with them;
Lead them safely by the hand.
O be with them;
Lead them safely by the hand.

When they reach the land of stran­gers,
And the prospect dark ap­pears,
Nothing seen but toils and dang­ers,
Nothing felt but doubts and fears,
Be Thou with them,
Hear their sighs and count their tears.
Be Thou with them,
Hear their sighs and count their tears.

When no fruit ap­pears to cheer them,
And they seem to toil in vain,
Then in mer­cy, Lord, draw near them,
Then their sink­ing hopes sus­tain:
Thus sup­port­ed,
Let their zeal re­vive again.
Thus sup­port­ed,
Let their zeal re­vive again.

In the midst of op­po­si­tion
Let them trust, O Lord, in Thee;
When success attends their mis­sion,
Let Thy ser­vants hum­bler be:
Never leave them
Till Thy face in Heav’n they see.
Never leave them
Till Thy face in Heav’n they see.

There to reap in joy for­ev­er,
Fruit that grows from seed here sown;
There to be with Him, who ne­ver
Ceases to pre­serve His own;
And with glad­ness
Give the praise to Him alone.
And with glad­ness
Give the praise to Him alone.