Father Eternal, Ruler of Creation

Representative Text

1 Father eternal, Ruler of creation,
Spirit of life, which moved ere form was made;
Through the thick darkness covering every nation,
Light to man's blindness, O be Thou our aid:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

2 Races and peoples, lo! we stand divided,
And sharing not our griefs, no joy can share;
By wars and tumults Love is mocked, derided,
His conquering cross no kingdom wills to bear:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

3 Envious of heart, blind-eyed, with tongues confounded,
Nation by nation still goes unforgiven;
In wrath and fear, by jealousies surrounded,
Building proud towers which shall not reach to heaven:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

4 How shall we love Thee, holy, hidden Being,
If we love not the world which Thou hast made?
O give us brother love for better seeing
Thy Word made flesh, and in a manger laid:
Thy Kingdom come, O Lord, Thy will be done.

Amen.

Source: The Hymnbook #486

Author: Laurence Housman

Housman, Lawrence, author and artist, was born July 18, 1867, at Bromsgrove, Worcs. His devotional poetry is principally in his Spikenard, 1898, and Bethlehem, 1902. To the English Hymnal, 1906, he contributed eight translations (142, 188, 191, 228, 229, 230, 231, 234); also three original hymns, with a fourth previously published, viz.:— 1. Lord God of Hosts, within Whose hand. St. George. 2. The Maker of the sun and moon. Christmas. From Bethlehem, 1902, p. 75. 3. The Saint who first found grace to pen. St. Mark. 4. When Christ was born in Bethlehem. Holy Innocents. [Rev. James Mearns, M.A.] --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907)… Go to person page >

Tune

LANGHAM (Shaw)


OLD 124TH

GENEVAN 124 (also known as OLD 124TH) was first published in the 1551 edition of the Genevan Psalter. Dale Grotenhuis (PHH 4) harmonized the tune in 1985. One of the best known from the Genevan Psalter, the tune is published in most North American hymnals. By 1564 it was adopted in English and Scott…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)

Church Hymnary (4th ed.) #261

Common Praise (1998) #574

Hymns of Glory, Songs of Praise #261

Rejoice in the Lord #489

Audio

Small Church Music #1965

The Cyber Hymnal #1504

The Hymnal 1982 #573

The Irish Presbyterian Hymbook #616

Include 39 pre-1979 instances
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