266 L. M. The Christian banner.
The Christian banner! dread no loss Where that broad ensign floats unrolled; But let the fair and sacred cross Blaze out from every radiant fold: Stern foes arise, a countless throng, Loud as the storms of Kara’s sea, But though the strife be fierce and long, That cross shall wave in victory.
2 Sound the shrill trumpet, sound, and call The people of the mighty King, And bid them keep that standard all In martial thousands gathering: Let them come forth from every clime That lies beneath the circling sun, Various, as flowers in that sweet clime Where flowers are, in heart, but one.
3 Soldiers of heaven! take sword and shield, Look up to him who rules on high, And forward to the glorious field, Where noble martyrs bleed and die; Press onward, scorning flight or fear, As deep waves burst on Norway’s coast, And let the startled nations hear The war-shout of the Christian host.
4 Lift up the banner: rest no more, Nor let this righteous warfare cease, Till man’s last tribe shall bow before The Lord of lords—the Prince of Peace: Go! bear it forth, ye strong and brave; Let not those bright folds once be furled, Till that high sun shall see them wave Above a blest but conquered world.
267 L. M. The Spirit of the Lord, etc. Isaiah 59:19.
Fling out the banner! let it float Sky-ward and sea-ward, high and wide: The sun, that lights its shining folds, The cross, on which the Saviour died.
2 Fling out the banner! angels bend, In anxious silence, o’er the sign; And vainly seek to comprehend The wonder of the love divine.
3 Fling out the banner! heathen lands Shall see, from far, the glorious sight, And nations, crowding to be born, Baptize their spirits in its light.
4 Fling out the banner! sin-sick souls, That sink and perish in the strife, Shall touch in faith its radiant hem, And spring immortal into life.
5 Fling out the banner! let it float Sky-ward and sea-ward, high and wide; Our glory, only in the cross; Our only hope, the Crucified.
6 Fling out the banner! wide and high, Sea-ward and sky-ward, let it shine; Nor skill, nor might, nor merit, ours; We conquer only in that sign.
268 L. M. The power of God unto salvation. Rom. 1:16.
God, in the gospel of his Son, Makes his eternal counsels known; ’Tis here his richest mercy shines, And truth is drawn in fairest lines.
2 Here sinners of a humble frame May taste his grace and learn his name; ’Tis writ in characters of blood, Severely just—immensely good.
3 Here Jesus, in ten thousand ways, His soul-attracting charms displays; Recounts his poverty and pains, And tells his love in melting strains.
4 May this blest volume ever lie Close to my heart, and near my eye— Till life’s last hour my soul engage, And be my chosen heritage!
269 L. M. Pentecost. Acts 2.
Great was the day, the joy was great, When the beloved disciples met; And on their heads the Spirit came, And sat like tongues of cloven flame.
2 What gifts, what miracles he gave! The power to kill, the power to save, Furnished their tongues with wondrous words, Instead of shields, and spears, and swords.
3 Thus armed, he sent the champions forth, From east to west, from south to north; Go, and assert your Saviour’s cause— Go, spread the mystery of the cross!
4 These weapons of the holy war, Of what almighty force they are To make our stubborn passions bow, And lay the proudest rebel low!
5 The Greeks and Jews, the learned and rude, Are by these heavenly arms subdued; While Satan rages at his loss, And hates the doctrine of the cross.
270 S. M. How beautiful are the feet, etc. Rom. 10:15.
How beauteous are their feet Who stand on Zion’s hill! Who bring salvation on their tongues, And words of peace reveal!
2 How charming is their voice! How sweet the tidings are! “Zion, behold thy Saviour King, He reigns and triumphs here.”
3 How happy are our ears That hear this joyful sound, Which kings and prophets waited for, And sought, but never found!
4 How blesséd are our eyes That see this heavenly light! Prophets and kings desired it long, But died without the sight.
5 The watchmen join their voice, And tuneful notes employ; Jerusalem breaks forth in songs, And deserts learn the joy.
6 The Lord makes bare his arm Through all the earth abroad; Let every nation now behold Their Saviour and their God.
271 S. M. Power of God’s word.
Behold, the morning sun Begins his glorious way; His beams through all the nations run, And light and life convey.
2 But where the gospel comes, It spreads diviner light; It calls dead sinners from their tombs, And gives the blind their sight.