The Son of God Goes Forth to War - #452 - Bishop Heber

"The Son of God Goes Forth to War"
by Reginald Heber, 1783-1826)

Tune - All Saints New - linked here.

1. The Son of God goes forth to war
A kingly crown to gain.
His blood-red banner streams afar;
Who follows in His train?
Who best can drink His cup of woe,
Triumphant over pain,
Who patient bears his cross below--
He follows in His train.

2. The martyr first whose eagle eye
Could pierce beyond the grave,
Who saw His Master in the sky
And called on Him to save.
Like Him, with pardon on His tongue,
In midst of mortal pain,
He prayed for them that did the wrong--
Who follows in his train?

3. A glorious band, the chosen few,
On whom the Spirit came,
Twelve valiant saints; their hope they knew
And mocked the cross and flame.
They met the tyrant's brandished steel,
The lion's gory mane;
They bowed their necks the death to feel--
Who follows in their train?

4. A noble army, men and boys,
The matron and the maid,
Around the Savior's throne rejoice,
In robes of light arrayed.
They climbed the steep ascent of heav'n
Thro' peril, toil, and pain.
O God, to us may grace be giv'n
To follow in their train!

Hymn #452
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: 1 Timothy 6:12
Author: Reginald Heber, 1827
Composer: Henry S. Cutler, 1872
Tune: "All Saints New"

Hosanna to the Living Lord - #70 - Bishop Heber

"Hosanna to the Living Lord"
by Reginald Heber, 1783-1826

1. Hosanna to the living Lord!
Hosanna to the Incarnate Word!
To Christ, Creator, Savior, King,
Let earth, let heaven, hosanna sing.

2. O Savior, with protecting care
Abide in this Thy house of prayer,
Where we Thy parting promise claim,
Assembled in Thy sacred name.

3. But, chiefest, in our cleansed breast,
Eternal, bid Thy Spirit rest
And make our secret soul to be
A temple pure and worthy Thee.

4. So in the last and dreadful Day,
When earth and heaven shall melt away,
Thy flock, redeemed from sinful stain,
Shall swell the sound of praise again.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #70
Text: Matt. 21:9
Author: Reginald Heber, 1811; 1827, ab.
Tune: "Vom Himmel hoch"
First Published in: _Geistliche Lieder_
Town: Leipzig, 1539

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty - #246 - Bishop Heber

"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty!"
by Reginald Heber, 1783-1826

Tune - Nicaea - linked here

1. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #246
Text: Rev. 4:8
Author: Reginald Heber, 1827
Composer: John B. Dykes, 1861
Tune: Nicaea

From Greenland's Icy Mountains - 495 - Bishop Heber

"From Greenland's Icy Mountains"
by Reginald Heber, 1783-1826

Tune - Missionary Hymn - linked here

1. 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.

2. What though the spicy breezes
Blow soft o'er Ceylon's isle;
Though ev'ry 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.

3. Can we whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Can we to men benighted
The lamp of life deny?
Salvation! Oh, Salvation!
The joyful sound proclaim
Till each remotest nation
Has learned Messiah's name.

4. 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.

Hymn #495
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Acts 16:9
Author: Reginald Heber, 1819
Composer: Lowell Mason, 1824
Tune: "Missionary Hymn"

Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning - #128 - Bishop Heber

"Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning"
by Reginald Heber, 1783-1826

Tune - Morning Star - linked here

1. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

2. Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;
Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.

3. Shall we not yield Him, In costly devotion
Odors of Edom and offerings divine,
Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

4. Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
Vainly with gifts would His favor secure.
Richer by far is the heart's adoration;
Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

5. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #128
Text: Matthew 2:11
Author: Reginald Heber, 1811
Composer: John P. Harding, 1892
Tune: "Morning Star"

Bishop Reginald Heber also wrote Holy, Holy, Holy and the Missionary Hymn.