|
Of him the sacred record saith,
He was a good man, full of faith,
Who by the Holy Spirit led,
Rejoiced to see the Gospel spread:--
|
|
Spread by the Saints where'r they went
From martyrdom to banishment;
The cross through every region bore,
And more oppress'd, prevail'd the more.
|
|
From doom'd Jerusalem cast forth,
Eastward and westward, south and north!
On fertile field, and barren clod,
They sow'd the seed, the Word of God.
|
|
To heathen Antioch, when they came,
And first received their Master's name,
They gloried in it, and bequeath'd
The inheritance to all that breathed:--
|
|
To all that breathed by second birth,
Children of God, though sons of earth,
For "Christians," Christians such shall be
Till time becomes eternity.
|
|
142
Well then might Barnabas rejoice,
And aid the work with heart and voice,
For though by earth and hell assail'd,
The truth grew mighty and prevail'd.
|
|
Ye faithful souls, from age to age,
Transmit your heavenly heritage,
Christ's easy yoke with meekness wear,
And bear His cross whose name ye bear:--
|
|
That all the living, in that day,
When Heaven and Earth must pass away,
Redeemed from sin, through grace restored,
May be caught up to meet the Lord.
|
|
|