Forgive, O Lord, Our Severing Ways

Representative Text

1 Forgive, O Lord, our severing ways,
The rival altars that we raise,
The wrangling tongues that mar Thy praise.

2 Thy grace impart; in time to be
Shall one great temple rise to Thee—
One Church for all humanity.

3 White flowers of love its walls shall climb,
Soft bells of peace shall ring its chime,
Its days shall all be holy time.

4 A sweeter song shall then be heard,
Confessing, in a world's accord,
The inward Christ, the living Word.

5 That song shall swell from shore to shore,
One hope, one faith, one love restore
The seamless robe that Jesus wore.

Amen.

Source: The Hymnbook #476

Author: John Greenleaf Whittier

Whittier, John Greenleaf, the American Quaker poet, was born at Haverhill, Massachusetts, Dec. 17, 1807. He began life as a farm-boy and shoemaker, and subsequently became a successful journalist, editor and poet. In 1828 he became editor of the American Manufacturer (Boston), in 1830 of the New England Review, and an 1836 (on becoming Secretary to the American Anti-Slavery Society) of the Pennsylvania Freeman. He was also for some time, beginning with 1847, the corresponding editor of the National Era. In 1840 he removed to Amesbury, Massachusetts, where most of his later works have been written. At the present time [1890] he lives alternately at Amesbury and Boston. His first poetical piece was printed in the Newburyport Free Press in 182… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Forgive, O Lord, our severing ways
Title: Forgive, O Lord, Our Severing Ways
Author: John Greenleaf Whittier
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

O MENSCH SIEH


EISENACH (Gesius)

MACHS MIT MIR was first published in the collection of music Das ander Theil des andern newen Operis Geistlicher Deutscher Lieder (1605) by Bartholomäus Gesius (b. Münchenberg, near Frankfurt, Germany, c. 1555; d. Frankfurt, 1613). A prolific composer, Gesius wrote almost exclusively for the churc…

Go to tune page >


Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 10 of 10)
Text

Christian Worship #484

Hymnbook for Christian Worship #350

Audio

More Hymns and Spiritual Songs #8

Pilgrim Hymnal #262

TextPage Scan

The Hymnal #344

Text

The Hymnbook #476

The New Church Hymnal #d108

Unity Hymns and Chorals. Rev and enl. with Service Elements #d66

Worship II, a Hymnal for Roman Catholic Parishes #d72

Worship in Song #d74

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us