Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church ‎#220

220. From Greenland's icy mountains

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 every 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 Shall we whose souls are lighted
With wisdom from on high,
Shall we to men benighted
The lamp of life deny?
Salvation! O salvation!
The joyful sound proclaim,
Till earth's 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.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: From Greenland's icy mountains
• Author: Reginald Heber (1819)
• Meter: 7 6, 7 6. D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1917
• Topic: The Church: Foreign Missions

Tune Information

• Name: MISSIONARY HYMN
• Composer: Lowell Mason (1824)
• Meter: 7 6, 7 6. D.
• Key: E♭ Major