When Zion's sons, Great God, appear

Representative Text

1 When Zion's sons, Great God! appear
In Zion's court for praise and prayer;
Then in thy Spirit, deign to be
As one with those who worship thee.

2 Till thou shalt o'er the waters move,
'Twill but a barren season prove;
Lifeless and cold will be the song,
The preacher dull, the service long.

3 Without thine over shadowing wings,
No sweets the gospel message brings;
Fettered the herald's tongue appears,
Till his great master's feet he hears.

4 Winds, from the north and south, awake,
Take of the things of Jesus, take;
Diffuse thy kind celestial dew,
Bring pardon, peace, and healing too.

5 Confirm the weak and feeble knees,
Unfold the gospel promises;
The truth we hear, do thou apply,
Nor let a waiter's fleece be dry.

6 Then shall we count the season dear,
To those who speak or those who hear;
And all conspire with sweet accord,
In hymns of joy, to praise the Lord.

A New Selection of Hymns, 1812

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Author: John Kent

Kent, John, was born at Bideford, Devonshire, Dec. 1766, and died Nov. 15, 1843. As a working shipwright his opportunities for acquiring the education and polish necessary for the production of refined verse were naturally limited. His hymns are strongly worded, very earnest and simple, and intensely Calvinistic. A few were published in Samuel Reece's Collection, 1799. The first edition of his Collection of Original Gospel Hymns, was published in 1803, and the 10th edition, with "The Author's Experience," in verse, 264 hymns, 15 longer pieces, and a Life by his Son in 1861. The Calvinistic teaching so prominent in his hymns has restricted their use to a limited number of collections. The greatest use made of them in modern hymnbooks has bee… Go to person page >

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