The Church Hymnal ‎#203

203. God of the nations, Who hast led

1 God of the nations, Who hast led
Thy children since the world began,
Through doubt and struggle, pain and tears,
unfolding Thy eternal plan;
From countless hilltops as of old
The fire upon the altar flares;
Through countless rites, through countless tongues,
Men offer their imperfect prayers;
Hasten the time of our release,
Bring in the reign of truth and peace.

2 O Jesus Christ, Incarnate Son,
Who bore our flesh that men might see
The Vision of the Perfect Life
Fashioned in their humanity;
By all Thy words of heavenly truth,
By all Thy deeds of mercy wrought,
By all the passion of Thy cross,
By the redemption Thou hast brought;
Hasten the time of our release,
Bring in Thy reign of truth and peace.

3 O Holy Spirit, who dost touch
The prophets with Thy sacred fire,
Eternal Wisdom to whose light
All seekers after truth aspire;
Behold the warring sons of men,
The helpless by the strong oppressed,
The truth with error still concealed,
The evil grudgingly confessed;
Hasten the time of our release,
Bring in Thy reign of truth and peace.

4 O God Triune, Thy Church to-day
In penitence before Thee kneels,
Mourning her years of slothful ease,
Her deafness to the world's appeals;
Divided where she should be one,
Enamoured of a lesser strife,
Tithing the mint and cummin while
Men perish for the Bread of Life;
Hasten the time of our release,
Bring in Thy reign of truth and peace.

5 Restore to us the vision, Lord,
Descend with fires of Pentecost;
Our tongues unloose, our hearts inflame,
To preach the Gospel to the lost;
Here at Thy feet our prayer is made,
Here life and wealth we dedicate;
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
Lord, Thy anointing we await;
Hasten the time of our release,
Bring in Thy reign of truth and peace.

Text Information

• First Line: God of the nations, Who hast led
• Author: F. Edwards
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1920
• Topic: Holy Days: National Days
• Notes: Now Public Domain.

Tune Information

• Name: OLD 113TH
• Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8.8.8.8.8.
• Key: E♭ Major
• Source: Day's Psalms, 1563
• Notes: Now Public Domain.