The tender light of home behind

Representative Text

1. The tender light of home behind,
Dark heathen gloom before,
The servants of the Lord go forth
To many a foreign shore:
But the true light that cannot pale
Streams on them from above,
A light divine, that shall not fail—
The smile of Him they love.

2. The sheltering nest of home behind,
The battlefield before,
They gird their heav’nly armor on,
And seek the foreign shore:
But Christ their captain, with them goes,
He leads them in the way;
With Him they face the mightiest foes,
With Him they win the day.

3. The peaceful joys of home behind,
Danger and death before,
Right cheerfully they set their face
To seek the foreign shore:
For Christ has called, and His dear Word
Brings bliss, whate’er betide;
’Tis not alone—’tis with their Lord
They seek the other side.

4. A wealth of love and prayer behind,
Far-reaching hope before,
The servants of the Lord go forth
To seek a foreign shore:
And wheresoe’er their footsteps move
That hope makes sweet the air;
And all the path is paved with love,
And canopied with prayer.

5. Christ in the fondly-loved behind,
Christ in the bright before,
Oh! blest are they who start with Him
To seek the foreign shore!
Christ is their fair, unfading light,
Christ is their shield and sword,
Christ is their keeper, day and night,
And Christ their rich reward.

Source: The Cyber Hymnal #6537

Author: Sarah G. Stock

Stock, Sarah Geraldina, born Dec. 27, 1838, has devoted much time to literature with special reference to Mission work and Sunday Schools. Her prose publications include Lessons on Israel in Egypt, &c, 1874; The Child's Life of our Lord, 1879; Bible Stories from the Old Testament, &c, 1882, and others. Her hymns in common use include:— 1. A debtor! For the love of God unbounded. Missions. Written for the Church Missionary Almanack, 1878, and also issued as a C. M. S. leaflet. 2. Behind and Before. Departure of Missionaries. Written for India's Women, and sung for the first time at the dismissal of Church of England Zenana missionaries, Sep. 30, 1887. Since issued as a C. M. S. leaflet. 3. Called to Thy service, Lord. H… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The tender light of home behind
Author: Sarah G. Stock
Language: English

Tune

PENMAENMAWR


ST. MATTHEW (Croft)

ST. MATTHEW was published in the Supplement to the New Version of Psalms by Dr. Brady and Mr. Tate (1708), where it was set to Psalm 33 and noted as a new tune. The editor of the Supplement, William Croft (PHH 149), may be the composer of ST. MATTHEW. One of the longer British psalm tunes, it has a…

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The Cyber Hymnal #6537
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The Cyber Hymnal #6537

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