Christ My Song - 1496
Blessed are ye, ye chosen bearers - The Missionaries
(Carl Johann Philipp Spitta/Richard Massie/
Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
The Missionaries.
1. Blessed are ye, ye chosen bearers
of God's word to lands afar,
bidding all men to be sharers
of the joyful news ye bear.
Onward, onward, boldly pressing
through the howling desert speed,
God will crown your work with blessing,
and give increase to the seed. PDF - Midi
2. High your Saviour's banner waving,
tell it forth, intrepid band,
that His Name alone is saving,
that all power is in His hand.
Be to all the world a witness
of the everlasting word,
teaching all to taste its sweetness,
and confess that He is Lord.
3. Arm, ye soldiers, though your weapons
be not spears or glittering swords,
press on still, though danger threatens,
for the whole earth is the Lord's.
He who sent you will defend you,
and your King and Shepherd be,
though like sheep 'mid wolves he send you,
ye shall wander glad and free.
4. Love it was for one another
which first moved and urged you on,
that to do for your poor brother,
which the Lord for you hath done.
Therefore seek ye neither pleasure,
honour, wealth, nor earthly good,
no! ye bear a nobler treasure,
peace through Jesus' precious blood.
5. Bear all hardships unrepining,
scoffed at, answer not a word;
for all lands shall soon be shining
with the glory of the Lord.
Blessed are ye, brave standard-bearers,
witnesses for Christ to men,
ye shall in his joy be sharers,
when your Lord shall come again.
6. After all their tribulations,
thousands shall Hosanna sing,
and the heavens with acclamations
to their God and Saviour ring.
Thousands then shall hail the teachers,
who first brought them to the Lord;
then shall be, ye faithful preachers,
your bright crown and sweet reward.
Richard Massie, Lyra Domestica I, 1863, 95-96.
Translated from the German Hochgesegnet seid ihr Boten - Die Freudenboten of Carl Johann Philipp Spitta.