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Hymns Supplied Through the Gracious Generosity
of the Cyber Hymnal Website
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Words: Reginald Heber, 1819.
Music: "Missionary Hymn," Lowell Mason, 1823
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 Courtesy of Yale Divinity Library |
Heber was visiting his father-in-law's home one Saturday evening, and a service with a missionary theme was planned for the next day. His father-in-law (the pastor of the church) wondered if Heber could write something for them to sing. Heber went to the other side of the room, away from the buzz of conversation, and in minutes returned with the first three verses. "There, there, that will do nicely," said the vicar-who had an aversion to long hymns. "No, no," responded Heber, "the sense is incomplete." And he sat down and wrote a fourth verse. Even then, he wasn't satisfied. He begged to be allowed time to add another, but the vicar wouldn't hear of it. One wonders what we'd have received, if he'd been allowed to continue. The hymn was published in the Evangelical Magazine in July 1821. It is considered one of the finest missionary hymns in the English language.
From Greenland's icy mountains, from India's coral strand;
Where Afric's sunny fountains roll down their golden sand:
From many an ancient river, from many a palmy plain,
They call us to deliver their land from error's chain.
What though the spicy breezes blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle;
Though every prospect pleases, and only man is vile?
In vain with lavish kindness the gifts of God are strown;
The heathen in his blindness bows down to wood and stone.
Shall we, whose souls are lighted with wisdom from on high,
Shall we to those benighted the lamp of life deny?
Salvation! O salvation! The joyful sound proclaim,
Till earth's remotest nation has learned Messiah's Name.
Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, and you, ye waters, roll
Till, like a sea of glory, it spreads from pole to pole:
Till o'er our ransomed nature the Lamb for sinners slain,
Redeemer, King, Creator, in bliss returns to reign.
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