You shall hear of wars and rumors of wars.
Matthew 24:6
Words: Charlotte E. Tonna, in The New Jubilee Harp (Boston, Massachusetts: Advent Christian Publication Society, 1888), number 157.
Music: Aberystwyth (Parry) Joseph Parry, 1876. First published in Edward Stephens’ Ail Lyfr Tonau ac Emynau, 1879 (🔊 pdf nwc).
When from scattered lands afar
Spreads the voice of rumored war,
Nations in tumultuous pride
Heave like ocean’s roaring tide;
When the solar splendors fail,
When the crescent waxeth pale;
World! do thou the signal dread,
We exalt the drooping head.
When the powers that star-like reign
Sink dishonored to the plain,
We uplift the expectant eye—
Our redemption draweth nigh,
When the fig tree shoots appear,
Men behold their summer near;
When the hearts of rebels fail,
We the coming Conqueror hail.
Bridegroom of Thy weeping spouse,
Listen to her longing vows,
Listen to her widowed moan,
Listen to creation’s groan;
Bid, O bid Thy trumpet sound,
Gather Thine elect around:
Call them from the cheerless gloom,
Call them from the marble tomb.
From the grass-grown village grave,
From the deep dissolving wave,
From the whirlwind and the flame,
Mighty Head, Thy members claim.
Where Thy cross in anguish stood,
Where Thy life distilled in blood,
Where they mocked Thy dying groan,
King of nations, claim Thy throne.