[Editor: This poem by L. E. Homfray was published in Church Life (Toronto, Canada), 16 January 1913.]
Hymn for Missions.
Oh! God of Heaven, and earth and sea,
Our longing cry goes up to Thee,
That gathered in from every land
Thine own redeemed shall safely stand.
Oh! hear the prayer all nations pray,
And bring the long expected day.
May we with willing hand and heart,
Be ready all to do our part;
From every land goes forth the cry
“Oh! help us, brothers, or we die,”
Then can we hear that voice to-day
And all unheeding turn away?
Across the waters wild and drear
A pleading voice falls on our ear;
“Oh! send to us the Word of Life,
For souls are dying in the strife,”
Oh! let us heed that voice to-day.
Ere time and chance are gone for aye.
For selfish lives, and hearts of pride.
And secret sins we fain would hide,
Good Lord, we seek Thy pardon now,
And at Thy feet we humbly bow,
Our hearts would now Thy word obey
And cast our selfish pride away.
The gentle Shepherd sadly stands,
Behold His pierced Feet and Hands:
“For love of Me,” the sweet voice saith,
“Oh! save my sheep from pain and death.”
Dear Lord, our hearts would now obey,
Lest those in sorrow turn away.
Oh! God of Heaven, and earth and sea,
We bring our offerings unto Thee,
We gladly give from out our store,
And pray that we may love Thee more:
Oh! Lord Thy word we must obey,
And give Thee of Thine own to-day.
— Amen.
L. E. Homfray.
Source:
Church Life (Toronto, Canada), 16 January 1913, p. 5
Editor’s notes:
aye = always, forever
ere = before (from the Middle English “er”, itself from the Old English “aer”, meaning early or soon)
fain = happily or gladly; ready or willing; obliged or compelled
Lord = in a religious context, and capitalized, a reference to God or Jesus
Shepherd = in a religious context, a reference to Jesus or God
Old spelling in the original text:
saith (says)
thee (you)
thine (your)
thy (your)
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