Lord, Her Watch Thy Church Is Keeping

For Advent

Words: Henry Downton, 1867

Music: Everton
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer
Meter: 87 87 D

1. Lord, her watch thy Church is keeping:
when shall earth thy rule obey?
When shall end the night of weeping?
When shall break the promised day?
See the whitening harvest languish,
waiting still the laborers' toil;
was it vain, thy Son's deep anguish?
shall the strong retain the spoil?

2. Tidings, sent to every creature,
millions yet have never heard:
can they hear without a preacher?
Lord almighty, give the word!
Give the word! in every nation
let the Gospel trumpet sound,
witnessing a world's salvation,
to the earth's remotest bound.

3. Then the end: thy Church completed,
all thy chosen gathered in,
with their King in glory seated,
Satan bound, and banished sin;
gone for ever parting, weeping,
hunger, sorrow, death, and pain;
Lo! her watch thy Church is keeping;
Come, Lord Jesus, come to reign!

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