The Cyber Hymnal ‎#1324

1324. Eternal Father, Thou Hast Said

1. Eternal Father, Thou hast said
That Christ all glory shall obtain;
That He who once a suff’rer bled
Shall o’er the world a conqu’ror reign.

2. We wait Thy triumph, Savior King,
Long ages have prepared Thy way;
Now all abroad Thy banner fling,
Set time’s great battle in array.

3. Thy hosts are mustered to the field;
The cross! the cross! the battle call;
The old grim towers of darkness yield,
And soon shall totter to their fall.

4. On mountain tops the watch fires glow,
Where scattered wide the watchmen stand;
Voice echoes voice, and onward flow
The joyous shouts from land to land.

5. Oh, fill the Church with faith and power!
Bid her long nights of weeping cease;
To groaning nations haste the hour
Of life and freedom, light and peace.

6. Come, Spirit, make Thy wonders known,
Fulfill the Father’s high decree;
Then earth, the might of hell o’er thrown,
Shall keep her last great jubilee.

Text Information

• First Line: Eternal Father, Thou hast said
• Title: Eternal Father, Thou Hast Said
• Author: Ray Palmer (1860)
• Language: English
• Source: Poetical Works (New York: 1876)
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Alternate tunes: APPLETON, William Boyce, 1710-1779; CHURCH TRIUMPHANT, James W. Elliott, 1874; DUKE STREET, attributed to John Hatton, 1793; TRINITY COLLEGE, John B. Dykes, 1823-1876; WALTHAM (CALKIN), John B. Calkin, 1872

Tune Information

• Name: BATTLE HYMN
• Composer: John Whitaker, 1776-1847
• Incipit: 11231 56421 75123
• Key: A Major
• Copyright: Public Domain