God of the Nations, Who Hast Led

God of the na­tions

who hast led

Thy child­ren since the world be­gan

Through doubt and strug­gle

pain and tears

Unfolding Thy eter­nal plan;

From count­less hill­tops as of old

The fire up­on the al­tar flares;

Through count­less rites

in count­less tongues

Men of­fer their im­per­fect pray­ers;

Hasten the time of our re­lease

Bring in Thy reign of truth and peace.

O Je­sus Christ

in­car­nate Son

Who bore our flesh that men might see

The vi­sion of the per­fect life

Fashioned in their hu­man­ity;

By all Thy words of heav­en­ly truth

By all Thy deeds of mer­cy wrought

By all the pas­sion of Thy cross

By the re­demp­tion Thou hast brought;

Hasten the time of our re­lease

Bring in Thy reign of truth and peace.

O Ho­ly Spir­it

who dost touch

The pro­phets with Thy sac­red fire

Eternal wis­dom to whose light

All seek­ers af­ter truth as­pire;

Behold the war­ring sons of men

The help­less by the strong op­pressed

The truth with er­ror still con­cealed

The ev­il grudg­ing­ly con­fessed;

Hasten the time of our re­lease

Bring in Thy reign of truth and peace.

O God tri­une

Thy Church to­day

In pe­ni­tence be­fore Thee kneels

Mourning her years of sloth­ful ease

Her deaf­ness to the world’s ap­peals;

Divided where she should be one

Enamored of a less­er strife

Tithing the mint and cu­min while

Men per­ish for the Bread of Life;

Hasten the time of our re­lease

Bring in Thy reign of truth and peace.

Restore to us the vi­sion

Lord

Descend with fires of Pen­te­cost;

Our tongues un­loose

our hearts in­flame

To preach the Gos­pel to the lost:

Here at Thy feet our pray­er is made

Here life and wealth we de­di­cate;

Thy king­dom come

Thy will be done

Lord

Thy an­oint­ing we await;

Hasten the time of our re­lease

Bring in Thy reign of truth and peace.