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Eternal Father, Thou Hast Said

Representative Text

1 Eternal Father, Thou hast said,
That Christ all glory shall obtain;
That He who once a sufferer bled
Shall o'er the world a conqueror reign.

2 We wait Thy triumph, Saviour King;
Long ages have prepared Thy way;
Now all abroad Thy banner fling,
Set time's great battle in array.

3 Thy hosts are mustered to the field;
"The Cross! the Cross!" the battle-call:
The old grim towers of darkness yield,
And soon shall totter to their fall.

4 On mountain-tops the watch-fires glow,
Where scattered wide the watchmen stand;
Voice echoes voice, and onward flow
The joyous shouts from land to land.

5 O fill Thy Church with faith and power!
Bid her long night of weeping cease;
To groaning nations haste the hour
Of life and freedom, light and peace.

6 Come, Spirit, make Thy wonders known,
Fulfil the Father's high decree;
Then earth, the might of hell o'erthrown,
Shall keep her last great jubilee.

Source: Methodist Hymn and Tune Book: official hymn book of the Methodist Church #275

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Author: Ray Palmer

Ray Palmer (b. Little Compton, RI, 1808; d. Newark, NJ, 1887) is often considered to be one of America's best nineteenth-century hymn writers. After completing grammar school he worked in a Boston dry goods store, but a religious awakening prodded him to study for the ministry. He attended Yale College (supporting himself by teaching) and was ordained in 1835. A pastor in Congregational churches in Bath, Maine (1835-1850), and Albany, New York (1850-1865), he also served as secretary of the American Congregational Union (1865-1878). Palmer was a popular preacher and author, writing original poetry as well as translating hymns. He published several volumes of poetry and hymns, including Sabbath Hymn Book (1858), Hymns and Sacred Pieces (1865… Go to person page >

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Text Information

First Line: Eternal Father, Thou hast said
Title: Eternal Father, Thou Hast Said
Author: Ray Palmer
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain
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Timeline

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Media

The Cyber Hymnal #1324
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)
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Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #1324

The Cyber Hymnal #1324
Include 73 pre-1979 instances
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