The Christian banner! dread no loss

Where that broad ensign floats unrolled;

But let the fair and sacred cross

Blaze out from every radiant fold:

Stern foes arise, a countless throng,

Loud as the storms of Kara’s sea,

But though the strife be fierce and long,

That cross shall wave in victory.

2 Sound the shrill trumpet, sound, and call

The people of the mighty King,

And bid them keep that standard all

In martial thousands gathering:

Let them come forth from every clime

That lies beneath the circling sun,

Various, as flowers in that sweet clime

Where flowers are, in heart, but one.

3 Soldiers of heaven! take sword and shield,

Look up to him who rules on high,

And forward to the glorious field,

Where noble martyrs bleed and die;

Press onward, scorning flight or fear,

As deep waves burst on Norway’s coast,

And let the startled nations hear

The war-shout of the Christian host.

4 Lift up the banner: rest no more,

Nor let this righteous warfare cease,

Till man’s last tribe shall bow before

The Lord of lords—the Prince of Peace:

Go! bear it forth, ye strong and brave;

Let not those bright folds once be furled,

Till that high sun shall see them wave

Above a blest but conquered world.

Fling out the banner! let it float

Sky-ward and sea-ward, high and wide:

The sun, that lights its shining folds,

The cross, on which the Saviour died.

2 Fling out the banner! angels bend,

In anxious silence, o’er the sign;

And vainly seek to comprehend

The wonder of the love divine.

3 Fling out the banner! heathen lands

Shall see, from far, the glorious sight,

And nations, crowding to be born,

Baptize their spirits in its light.

4 Fling out the banner! sin-sick souls,

That sink and perish in the strife,

Shall touch in faith its radiant hem,

And spring immortal into life.

5 Fling out the banner! let it float

Sky-ward and sea-ward, high and wide;

Our glory, only in the cross;

Our only hope, the Crucified.

6 Fling out the banner! wide and high,

Sea-ward and sky-ward, let it shine;

Nor skill, nor might, nor merit, ours;

We conquer only in that sign.

God, in the gospel of his Son,

Makes his eternal counsels known;

’Tis here his richest mercy shines,

And truth is drawn in fairest lines.

2 Here sinners of a humble frame

May taste his grace and learn his name;

’Tis writ in characters of blood,

Severely just—immensely good.

3 Here Jesus, in ten thousand ways,

His soul-attracting charms displays;

Recounts his poverty and pains,

And tells his love in melting strains.

4 May this blest volume ever lie

Close to my heart, and near my eye—

Till life’s last hour my soul engage,

And be my chosen heritage!

Great was the day, the joy was great,

When the beloved disciples met;

And on their heads the Spirit came,

And sat like tongues of cloven flame.

2 What gifts, what miracles he gave!

The power to kill, the power to save,

Furnished their tongues with wondrous words,

Instead of shields, and spears, and swords.

3 Thus armed, he sent the champions forth,

From east to west, from south to north;

Go, and assert your Saviour’s cause—

Go, spread the mystery of the cross!

4 These weapons of the holy war,

Of what almighty force they are

To make our stubborn passions bow,

And lay the proudest rebel low!

5 The Greeks and Jews, the learned and rude,

Are by these heavenly arms subdued;

While Satan rages at his loss,

And hates the doctrine of the cross.

How beauteous are their feet

Who stand on Zion’s hill!

Who bring salvation on their tongues,

And words of peace reveal!

2 How charming is their voice!

How sweet the tidings are!

“Zion, behold thy Saviour King,

He reigns and triumphs here.”

3 How happy are our ears

That hear this joyful sound,

Which kings and prophets waited for,

And sought, but never found!

4 How blesséd are our eyes

That see this heavenly light!

Prophets and kings desired it long,

But died without the sight.

5 The watchmen join their voice,

And tuneful notes employ;

Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,

And deserts learn the joy.

6 The Lord makes bare his arm

Through all the earth abroad;

Let every nation now behold

Their Saviour and their God.

Behold, the morning sun

Begins his glorious way;

His beams through all the nations run,

And light and life convey.

2 But where the gospel comes,

It spreads diviner light;

It calls dead sinners from their tombs,

And gives the blind their sight.

3 How perfect is thy word!

And all thy judgments just!

For ever sure thy promise, Lord,

And we securely trust.

4 My gracious God, how plain

Are thy directions given!

O, may I never read in vain,

But find the path to heaven.

Hark! how the gospel trumpet sounds!

Through all the world the echo bounds!

And Jesus, by redeeming blood,

Is bringing sinners back to God,

And guides them safely by his word

To endless day.

2 Hail, Jesus! all victorious Lord!

Be thou by all mankind adored!

For us didst thou the fight maintain,

And o’er our foes the victory gain,

That we with thee might ever reign

In endless day.

3 Fight on, ye conquering souls, fight on,

And when the conquest you have won,

Then palms of victory you shall hear,

And in his kingdom have a share,

And crowns of glory ever wear,

In endless day.

4 There we shall in full chorus join,

With saints and angels all combine

To sing of his redeeming love,

When rolling years shall cease to move,

And this shall be our theme above,

In endless day.

Blow ye the trumpet, blow

The gladly-solemn sound;

Let all the nations know,

To earth’s remotest bound,

The year of jubilee is come;

Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

2 Exalt the Lamb of God,

The sin-atoning Lamb;

Redemption by his blood,

Through all the lands, proclaim:

The year of jubilee is come;

Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

3 Ye slaves of sin and hell,

Your liberty receive,

And safe in Jesus dwell,

And blest in Jesus live:

The year of jubilee is come;

Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

4 The gospel trumpet hear,

The news of pardoning grace:

Ye happy souls, draw near;

Behold your Saviour’s face:

The year of jubilee is come;

Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

5 Jesus, our great High Priest,

Has full atonement made;

Ye weary spirits, rest;

Ye mourning souls, be glad:

The year of jubilee is come;

Return, ye ransomed sinners, home.

Hear the royal proclamation,

The glad tidings of salvation,

Publishing to every creature,

To the ruined sons of nature,

Jesus reigns—he reigns victorious,

Over heaven and earth most glorious!

Jesus reigns.

2 See the royal banners flying,

Hear the heralds loudly crying:

“Rebel sinners, royal favor

Now is offered by the Saviour.”

3 Here is wine, and milk, and honey,

Come and purchase without money,

Mercy like a flowing fountain

Streaming from the holy mountain.

4 Shout, you tongues of every nation,

To the bounds of the creation,

Shout the praise of Judah’s Lion,

The almighty King of Zion.

5 Shout, O saints! make joyful mention,

Christ has purchased our redemption;

Angels, shout the joyful story,

Through the brighter worlds of glory.

Sound, sound the truth abroad!

Bear ye the word of God

Through the wide world;

Tell what our Lord has done,

Tell how the day is won,

Tell from his lofty throne

Satan is hurled.

2 Far over sea and land,

Go at your Lord’s command,

Bear ye his name;

Bear it to every shore,

Regions unknown explore,

Enter at every door;

Silence is shame.

3 Speed on the wings of love;

Jesus who reigns above

Bids us to fly;

They who his message bear

Should neither doubt nor fear;

He will their friend appear,

He will be nigh.

4 When on the mighty deep,

He will their spirits keep,

Stayed on his word;

When in a foreign land,

No other friend at hand,

Jesus will by them stand,

Jesus their Lord.