And is the time approaching

Representative Text

1 And is the time approaching,
By prophets long foretold,
When all shall dwell together,
One Shepherd and one fold?
Shall every idol perish,
To moles and bats be thrown,
And every prayer be offer'd
To God in Christ alone?

2 Shall Jew and Gentile meeting
From many a distant shore,
Around one altar kneeling,
One common Lord adore?
Shall all that now divides us
Remove and pass away,
Like shadows of the morning
Before the blaze of day?

3 Shall all that now unites us
More sweet and lasting prove,
A closer bond of union
In a blest land of love?
Shall war be learn'd no longer,
Shall strife and tumult cease,
All earth His blessèd kingdom,
The Lord and Prince of Peace?

4 O long-expected dawning,
Come with thy cheering ray!
When shall the morning brighten.
The shadows flee away?
O sweet anticipation!
It cheers the watchers on
To pray, and hope, and labour,
Till the dark night be gone.

Hymnal: according to the use of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, 1871

Author: Jane L. Borthwick

Miss Jane Borthwick, the translator of this hymn and many others, is of Scottish family. Her sister (Mrs. Eric Findlater) and herself edited "Hymns from the Land of Luther" (1854). She also wrote "Thoughts for Thoughtful Hours (1859), and has contributed numerous poetical pieces to the "Family Treasury," under the signature "H.L.L." --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A. 1872.… Go to person page >

Notes

And is the time approaching? Jane Borthwick. [Anticipation of Heaven.] Appeared in her Thoughtful Hours, 1859, in 8 stanzas of 4 lines, and entitled "Anticipations." It is not in common use in Great Britain, but is found in several American hymnals.

-- John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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The Cyber Hymnal #73
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The Cyber Hymnal #73

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