October 9, 2005

Have faith in God –
No other word allow;
Have faith in God –
He of the wounded brow;
Have faith in God –
Christ brings us freedom now.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Ye Christian Heralds

Bourne Hall Draper, 1775-1843

    How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Isaiah 52:7.

    Ye Christian Heralds is taken from a seven-verse poem titled "Farewell to Missionaries," which first appeared in an English newspaper in about 1803. Two years later it was reprinted in a hymnal with the title "On the Departure of Missionaries." The third verse of the poem is often omitted from our hymnals.
    The author of this text, Bourne Draper, was a Baptist minister who served most of his life in the Baptist church in Southampton, England. Although he authored a number of other works, Draper is best known today for this one hymn written as a young man while he was preparing for the Christian ministry.

Ye Christian heralds, go proclaim
Salvation through Emmanuel’s Name;
To distant climes the tidings bear,
And plant the Rose of Sharon there.

Ruler of worlds, display Thy power,
Be this Thy Zion’s favored hour;
Bid the bright morning star arise,
And point the nations to the skies.

Set up Thy throne where Satan reigns,
On Afric shores, on India’s plains;
On wilds and continents unknown,
And be the universe Thine own!

Speak and the world shall hear Thy voice;
Speak and the deserts shall rejoice!
Scatter the shades of mortal night;
Let worthless idols flee the light!

Trusting in Him, dear brethren, rear
The Gospel standard void of fear;
Go seek with joy your destined shore,
To view your native land no more.

He’ll shield you with a wall of fire,
With flaming zeal your hearts inspire,
Bid raging winds their fury cease,
And hush the tempests into peace.

And when our labors are all o’er,
Then we shall meet to part no more;
Meet with the blood bought throng to fall,
And crown our Jesus, Lord of all!

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission