HYMN ON THE SECOND ADVENT.
TUNE.—The German Choral : “Jesu, Du Sohn der unendlichen Liebe.” Now is fulfilled the great revelation ;
Now is the time by the prophets foretold ;
Lo! the dread signs of the world's desolation,
Faith waxing dim and true love growing cold ;
Heart of man faileth ; sorrow prevaileth ;
Come, blessed Deliverer, promised of old! Shepherd of Israel, see thy flock straying,
Homeless and shelterless, hungry and cold ;
Fled is the hireling, the false and betraying,
Scattered the sheep o'er the desolate wold.
Come thou and lead us ; shelter us, feed us ;
Come, Lord, and bring us into thy blest fold. Hope of the Gentiles, bright Star of the morning!
When shall the night of our waiting be past?
When shall we welcome, the hill-tops adorning,
The blessed light of thy rising at last?
O then to greet thee, going to meet thee ;
When every burden away shall be cast. Courage, ye fearful; be strong, ye weak-hearted;
Cease not, ye servants, to watch and to pray;
From the far country to which he's departed
Shall your Lord come, but ye know not the day.
O blessed morrow! when care and sorrow
Shall at thy dawn flee forever away.