Hallowed Hymns, New and Old ‎#210

210. Forward! be Our Watchword

1 Forward! be our watchword,
Steps and voices joined;
Seek the things before us,
Not a look behind;
Burns the fiery pillar
At our army's head;
Who shall dream of shrinking,
By Jehovah led?
Forward thro' the desert,
Thro' the toil and fight:
Jordan flows before us,
Zion beams with light.

2 Forward, when in childhood
Buds the infant mind;
All thro' youth and manhood,
Not a thought behind;
Speed thro' realms of nature,
Climb the steeps of grace;
Faint not, till in glory
Gleams our Father's face,
On thro' sign and token;
Stars amidst the night;
Forward thro' the darkness,
Forward into Light!

3 Far o'er yon horizon
Rise the city towers,
Where our God abideth;
That fair home is ours:
Flash the streets with jasper,
Shine the gates with gold:
Flows the glad'ning river
Shedding joys untold:
Thither, onward thither,
In Jehovah's might,
Pilgrims to your Country,
Forward into Light!

4 To the Father's glory
Loudest anthems raise,
To the Son and Spirit
Echo songs of praise;
To the Lord Jehovah
Blessed Three in One
Be by men and angels
Endless honor done.
Weak are earthly praises,
Dull the songs of night;
Forward into triumph,
Forward into Light!

Text Information

• First Line: Forward! be our watchword
• Title: Forward! be Our Watchword
• Author: Henry Alford
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: Christian warfare
• Notes: Public Domain.

Tune Information

• Name: ST. ALBAN
• Composer: Franz J. Haydn
• Meter: 6s, 5s, 12 lines
• Key: G Major
• Notes: Public Domain.