In Judah’s Rugged Wilderness

In Ju­dah’s rug­ged wil­der­ness

Where Jor­dan rolls his flood

In man­ners strict

and rude in dress

The ho­ly Bap­tist stood.

And while up­on the riv­er’s side

The peo­ple thronged to hear

Repent

the sac­red preach­er cried;

The heav­en­ly king­dom’s near.

Now Je­sus to the stream des­cends;

His feet the wa­ters lave;

And o’er His head

that hum­bly bends

The Bap­tist pours the wave.

When lo! a heav­en­ly form ap­pears

Descending as a dove;

And won­drous sounds th’as­sem­bly hears

Proclaiming from above—

This is My well be­lov­èd Son;

On Him My Spir­it rests;

Now is His reign of grace be­gun;

Attend His high be­hests.

The sac­red voice has reached our ear

And still through dist­ant lands

Shall sound

till all His name rev­ere

And hon­or His com­mands.