The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35:10
Words: Arnold Brooks, 1900. Brooks wrote this hymn at the request of E. C. Dawson, editor of the Episcopal Church of Scotland’s Foreign Mission Chronicle. It appeared in that magazine in October 1900, and in slightly revised form in Hymns Ancient and Modern, 1904.
Music: Rangoon Charles Wood, 1904 (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good photo of Brooks (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Trumpet of God, sound high,
Till the hearts of the heathen shake,
And the souls that in slumber lie
At the voice of the Lord awake.
Till the fencèd cities fall
At the blast of the Gospel call,
Trumpet of God, sound high!
Hosts of the Lord, go forth:
Go, strong in the power of His rest,
Till the south be at one with the north,
And peace upon east and west;
Till the far-off lands shall thrill
With the gladness of God’s goodwill,
Hosts of the Lord, go forth.
Come, as of old, like fire;
O force of the Lord, descend,
Till with love of the world’s desire
Earth burn to its utmost end;
Till the ransomed people sing
To the glory of Christ the King,
Come, as of old, like fire.