The Glorious Reign of Christ on Earth

Representative Text

1 Lo! what a glorious sight appeared
before admiring eyes:
the former things all passed away,
the former earth and skies.
From heav’n the new Jerus'lem came,
for Christ, as bride prepared.
A voice resounding from the throne
these wondrous things declared:

2 "Now God has come to dwell with men,
and moved his blest abode.
His people they shall be at last,
and he shall be their God.
His gracious hand shall wipe the tears
from ev'ry weeping eye,
for pain and grief shall be no more,
and death itself shall die."

3 The One who sat upon the throne
said, "I make all things new!
Write down the words that you have heard,
for they are firm and true.
It is all done, and by my pow'r
is paradise restored.
I am the First, and I the Last,
the one eternal Lord.

4 "Come, all who thirst! To you I will
my healing water give.
Drink from my fountain without price
and so forever live.
Blest is the man who, conquering,
his heritage has won,
for I will be his faithful God
and he shall be my son.

5 "As for the vile and faithless ones,
those who my will defy
are thrown into the burning lake,
and death itself shall die."
We, too, shall stand before the throne;
then shall our names be found
recorded in the Book of Life.
How shall our joy abound!

Source: Trinity Psalter Hymnal #384

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Author: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was the son of a schoolmaster, and was born in Southampton, July 17, 1674. He is said to have shown remarkable precocity in childhood, beginning the study of Latin, in his fourth year, and writing respectable verses at the age of seven. At the age of sixteen, he went to London to study in the Academy of the Rev. Thomas Rowe, an Independent minister. In 1698, he became assistant minister of the Independent Church, Berry St., London. In 1702, he became pastor. In 1712, he accepted an invitation to visit Sir Thomas Abney, at his residence of Abney Park, and at Sir Thomas' pressing request, made it his home for the remainder of his life. It was a residence most favourable for his health, and for the prosecution of his literary… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Lo! what a glorious sight appears
Title:	The Glorious Reign of Christ on Earth
Author:	Isaac Watts
Meter:	8.6.8.6
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain

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Lo, what a glorious sight appears. I. Watts. [The Kingdom of Christ.] First published in his Hymns & Sacred Songs, 1707, as a paraphrase of Rev. xxi. 1-4, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines (2nd ed. 1709, Book i., No. 21). It is in common use in Great Britain and America. The most popular hymn with this opening line is, however, a cento compiled from it and Watts's "See where the great Incarnate God " (Hymns &Sacred Songs, 1709, Book i., No. 45), which is No. 67 of the Scottish Translations and Paraphrases of 1781. In the Draft Translations & Paraphrases, 1745, No. 38, the cento was thus given:—
Stanza i.-v., from Watts, No. 21, as above.
Stanza vi., new.
Stanza vii.-xii., from Watts, No. 45, as above.
Stanza xiii., from Watts, No. 21, as above.
In the authorized Translations and Paraphrases of 1781, this text was repeated with slight alterations, and has been in common use in Scotland and elsewhere to the present time. From the markings by the eldest daughter of W. Cameron (q.v.) we gather that the authorized Scottish text of 1781 was arranged and altered by Cameron. It should be designated I. Watts, 1707-9, Scottish Translations & Paraphrases, 1745, and W. Cameron, 1781. In Miss Jane E. Leeson's Paraphrases & Hymns, 1853, the Scottish cento is re-arranged as a hymn in 7 stanzas, beginning "From heaven, the glorious city comes."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

Notes

Lo, what a glorious sight appears. I. Watts. [The Kingdom of Christ.] First published in his Hymns & Sacred Songs, 1707, as a paraphrase of Rev. xxi. 1-4, in 6 stanzas of 4 lines (2nd ed. 1709, Book i., No. 21). It is in common use in Great Britain and America. The most popular hymn with this opening line is, however, a cento compiled from it and Watts's "See where the great Incarnate God " (Hymns &Sacred Songs, 1709, Book i., No. 45), which is No. 67 of the Scottish Translations and Paraphrases of 1781. In the Draft Translations & Paraphrases, 1745, No. 38, the cento was thus given:—
Stanza i.-v., from Watts, No. 21, as above.
Stanza vi., new.
Stanza vii.-xii., from Watts, No. 45, as above.
Stanza xiii., from Watts, No. 21, as above.
In the authorized Translations and Paraphrases of 1781, this text was repeated with slight alterations, and has been in common use in Scotland and elsewhere to the present time. From the markings by the eldest daughter of W. Cameron (q.v.) we gather that the authorized Scottish text of 1781 was arranged and altered by Cameron. It should be designated I. Watts, 1707-9, Scottish Translations & Paraphrases, 1745, and W. Cameron, 1781. In Miss Jane E. Leeson's Paraphrases & Hymns, 1853, the Scottish cento is re-arranged as a hymn in 7 stanzas, beginning "From heaven, the glorious city comes."

--John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Tune

NORTHFIELD (Ingalls)

ST. AGNES (Dykes)

John B. Dykes (PHH 147) composed ST. AGNES for [Jesus the Very Thought of Thee]. Dykes named the tune after a young Roman Christian woman who was martyred in A.D. 304 during the reign of Diocletian. St. Agnes was sentenced to death for refusing to marry a nobleman to whom she said, "I am already eng…

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