The Hymnbook ‎#486

486. Father Eternal, Ruler of Creation

1 Father eternal, Ruler of creation,
Spirit of life, which moved ere form was made;
Through the thick darkness covering every nation,
Light to man's blindness, O be Thou our aid:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

2 Races and peoples, lo! we stand divided,
And sharing not our griefs, no joy can share;
By wars and tumults Love is mocked, derided,
His conquering cross no kingdom wills to bear:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

3 Envious of heart, blind-eyed, with tongues confounded,
Nation by nation still goes unforgiven;
In wrath and fear, by jealousies surrounded,
Building proud towers which shall not reach to heaven:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

4 How shall we love Thee, holy, hidden Being,
If we love not the world which Thou hast made?
O give us brother love for better seeing
Thy Word made flesh, and in a manger laid:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Father eternal, Ruler of creation
• Title: Father Eternal, Ruler of Creation
• Author: Laurence Housman (1919)
• Meter: 11. 10. 11. 10. 10.
• Publication Date: 1955
• Scripture:
  Matthew 6:10
  ;
  Matthew 6:33
  ;
  Luke 11:2
• Topic: Armistice Day; Brotherhood; God: Kingdom; God: Will, Doing His; Peace on Earth; Penitence; World Friendship and Peace; Kingdom of God on Earth, The: World Friendship and Peace
• Copyright: Words from Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition. Used by permission of Oxford University Press.
• Notes: Now Public Domain in the U.S.

Tune Information

• Name: LANGHAM
• Composer: Geoffrey Shaw (1921)
• Meter: 11. 10. 11. 10. 10.
• Key: c minor
• Copyright: Music used by permission of the League of Nations Union.