2 Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might; Thou, in the darkness drear, their One True Light. Alleluia! 3 O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold, Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old, And win with them the victors' crown of gold. Alleluia! 4 O blest communion, fellowship divine! We feebly struggle, they in glory shine; Alleluia! 5 And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long, Steals on the ear the distant triumph-song, And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong. Alleluia! 6 The golden evening brightens in the west; Soon, soon to faithful warriors cometh rest; Sweet is the calm of Paradise the blest. Alleluia! 7 From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast, William Walsham How, 573 PLEYEL'S HYMN 7 7 7 7 Arr. from Ignaz J. Pleyel, 1790 1. Chil-dren of the heav'n-ly King, As ye journey, sweet - ly sing; Sing your Sav-iour's wor- thy praise, Glo-rious in His works and ways. A-MEN. All that is pure and per - ma-nent, And beau- ti - ful and blest. AMEN. 2 The family is scattered yet, Though of one home and heart, Part militant in earthly gloom, In heavenly glory part. 3 But who can speak the rapture when The circle is complete, 455 4 And all the children sundered now Around our Father meet? One fold, one Shepherd, one employ, One everlasting home! "Lo, I come quickly!" "Even so, Amen, Lord Jesus, come!" Edward H. Bickersteth, 1883 575 MEAR C. M. Aaron Williams, 1762 4 I. Lo, what a cloud of witnesses En com- pass us a- round; Men once like us with suff-ring tried, But now with glo- ry crown'd. A-MEN. 2 Unseen, they stand around us now, And bid us share with them the strife 3 Unsought, they seek us in the fight, To cheer us when our spirits faint, 4 White-robed they move among the stars 5 He, for the joy before Him set 6 Thither, forgetting things behind, 576 MARGUERITE C. M. Anon. Edward C. Walker, 1876 |