Hark! 'tis the Watchman's Cry

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Hark, 'tis the watchman's cry

Author: Horatius Bonar
Published in 83 hymnals

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Handbells
	Shall We Gather at the River

Representative Text

1. Hark! ’tis the watchman’s cry:
Wake, brethren, wake!
Jesus our Lord is nigh;
Wake, brethren, wake!
Sleep is for sons of night;
Ye are children of the light;
Yours is the glory bright--
Wake, brethren, wake!

2 Call to each waking band,
Watch, brethren, watch;
Clear is our Lord’s command,
Watch, brethren, watch.
Be ye as they that wait
Always at the Bridegroom's gate;
E’en though he tarry late,
Watch, brethren, watch.

3 Hear we the Saviour's voice,
Pray, brethren, pray!
Would ye his heart rejoice?
Pray, brethren, pray.
Sin calls for constant fear;
Weakness needs the Strong One near;
Long as ye struggle here,
Pray, brethren, pray.

4 Now sound the final chord,
Praise, brethren, praise!
Thrice holy is our Lord;
Praise, brethren, praise!
What more befits the tongues,
Soon to lead the angels’ songs,
While heaven the note prolongs,
Praise, brethren, praise!

Source: Laudes Domini: a selection of spiritual songs ancient and modern #493

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Author: Horatius Bonar

Horatius Bonar was born at Edinburgh, in 1808. His education was obtained at the High School, and the University of his native city. He was ordained to the ministry, in 1837, and since then has been pastor at Kelso. In 1843, he joined the Free Church of Scotland. His reputation as a religious writer was first gained on the publication of the "Kelso Tracts," of which he was the author. He has also written many other prose works, some of which have had a very large circulation. Nor is he less favorably known as a religious poet and hymn-writer. The three series of "Hymns of Faith and Hope," have passed through several editions. --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Hark, 'tis the watchman's cry
Title:	Hark! 'tis the Watchman's Cry
Author:	Horatius Bonar
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Notes

Hark! 'tis the watchman's cry. [Advent.] Anonymous in The Revival (a periodical) in 1859. It was included in the Hymnal Companion in 1876, and later, in other important collections.

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)

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