Hymns, Selected and Original ‎#161

161. When marshall'd on the nightly plain

1 When marshalled on the nightly plain,
The glitt’ring hosts bestud the sky;
One star alone, of all the train,
Can fix the sinner’s wand’ring eye.

2 Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks,
From every host, from every gem;
But one alone the Saviour speaks,
It is the star of Bethlehem.

3 Once on the raging seas I rode,
The storm was loud,--the night was dark,
The ocean yawn'd,--and rudely blow'd
The wind that toss'd my foundering bark.

4 Deep horror then my vitals froze,
Death-struck, I ceas'd the tide to stem;
When suddenly a star arose,
It was the star of Bethlehem.

5 It was my guide, my light, my all,
It bade my dark forebodings cease;
And through the storm and danger’s thrall,
It led me to the port in peace.

4 Now safely moor'd--my perils o’er,
I’ll sing, first in night’s diadem,
For ever and for ever more,
The star!--The star of Bethlehem!

Text Information

• First Line: When marshall'd on the nightly plain
• Meter: L. M.
• Publication Date: 1828
• Topic: Names and Characters of Christ: Star of Bethlehem
• Notes: Now Public Domain.

Tune Information

(No tune information)