The Cloud and Fire

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As of old when the hosts of Israel

Author: C. Austin Miles (1900)
Tune: [As of old when the hosts of Israel]
Published in 52 hymnals

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Representative Text

1 As of old when the hosts of Israel
Were compell'd in the wilderness to dwell,
Trusting they in their God to lead the way
To the light of perfect day.

Chorus:
So the sign of the fire by night,
And the sign of the cloud by day,
Hov'ring o'er, just before,
As they journey on their way,
Shall a guide and a leader be,
Till the wilderness be past,
For the Lord our God in His own good time
Shall lead to the light at last.

2 To and fro as a ship without a sail,
Not a compass to guide them thro' the vale,
But the sign of their God was ever near,
Thus their fainting hearts to cheer. [Chorus]

3 All the days of their wand'rings they were fed
To the land of the promise they were led;
By the hand of the Lord in guidance sure,
They were bro't to Canaan's shore. [Chorus]

Source: Christ in Song: for all religious services nearly one thousand best gospel hymns, new and old with responsive scripture readings (Rev. and Enl.) #518

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Author: C. Austin Miles

Charles Austin Miles USA 1868-1946. Born at Lakehurst, NJ, he attended the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and the University of PA. He became a pharmacist. He married Bertha H Haagen, and they had two sons: Charles and Russell. In 1892 he abandoned his pharmacy career and began writing gospel songs. At first he furnished compositions to the Hall-Mack Publishing Company, but soon became editor and manager, where he worked for 37 years. He felt he was serving God better in the gospel song writing business, than as a pharmacist. He published the following song books: “New songs of the gospel” (1900), “The service of praise” (1900), “The voice of praise” (1904), “The tribute of song” (1904), “New songs of the gospel… Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	As of old when the hosts of Israel
Title:	The Cloud and Fire
Author:	C. Austin Miles (1900)
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	So the sign of the fire by night
Publication Date:	1900
Copyright:	Public Domain