 | The Land of Light and other Hymns of Faith and Hope |  |
54
THE OLD STORY
Come and hear the grand old story,
Story of the ages past,
All earth's annals far surpassing,
Story that shall ever last.
Noblest, truest,
Oldest, newest,
Fairest, rarest,
Saddest, gladdest,
That this earth has ever known.
Story of the ages past,
All earth's annals far surpassing,
Story that shall ever last.
Noblest, truest,
Oldest, newest,
Fairest, rarest,
Saddest, gladdest,
That this earth has ever known.
Christ, the Father's Son eternal,
Once was born, a Son of man;
He who never knew beginning
Here on earth a life began.
Once was born, a Son of man;
He who never knew beginning
Here on earth a life began.
Here in David's lowly city,
Tenant of the manger-bed,
Child of everlasting ages,
Mary's infant, lays His head.
Tenant of the manger-bed,
Child of everlasting ages,
Mary's infant, lays His head.
55
There He lies, in mighty weakness,
David's Lord and David's Son,
Creature and Creator meeting,
Heaven and earth conjoined in one.
David's Lord and David's Son,
Creature and Creator meeting,
Heaven and earth conjoined in one.
Here at Nazareth He dwelleth,
'Mid the sin of sinful men,
Sorrowful, forlorn, and hated,
And yet hating none again.
'Mid the sin of sinful men,
Sorrowful, forlorn, and hated,
And yet hating none again.
Here in Galilee He wanders,
Through its teeming cities moves,
Climbs its mountains, walks its waters,
Blesses, comforts, saves, and loves.
Through its teeming cities moves,
Climbs its mountains, walks its waters,
Blesses, comforts, saves, and loves.
Words of truth and deeds of kindness,
Miracles of grace and might,
Scatter fragrance all around Him,
Shine with heaven's most glorious light.
Miracles of grace and might,
Scatter fragrance all around Him,
Shine with heaven's most glorious light.
56
In Gethsemane behold Him,
In the agony of prayer,
Kneeling, pleading, groaning, bleeding,
Soul and body prostrate there.
In the agony of prayer,
Kneeling, pleading, groaning, bleeding,
Soul and body prostrate there.
All alone He wrestles yonder,
Close beside Him stands the cup,
Bitterest cup that man e'er tasted;
Yet for us He drinks it up.
Close beside Him stands the cup,
Bitterest cup that man e'er tasted;
Yet for us He drinks it up.
In the Roman hall behold Him
Stand at Pilate's judgment-seat,
Mocked and beaten, crowned and wounded;
Jew and Gentile join in hate.
Stand at Pilate's judgment-seat,
Mocked and beaten, crowned and wounded;
Jew and Gentile join in hate.
On to Golgotha He hastens;
Yonder stands His cross of woe;
From His hands, and feet, and forehead,
See the precious life-blood flow.
Yonder stands His cross of woe;
From His hands, and feet, and forehead,
See the precious life-blood flow.
57
Sinless, He our sin is bearing,
All our sorrows on Him lie,
And His stripes our wounds are healing,
God for man consents to die.
All our sorrows on Him lie,
And His stripes our wounds are healing,
God for man consents to die.
It is finished! See His body
Laid alone in Joseph's tomb;
'Tis for us He lieth yonder,
Prince of light enwrapped in gloom.
Laid alone in Joseph's tomb;
'Tis for us He lieth yonder,
Prince of light enwrapped in gloom.
But in vain the grave has bound Him,
Death has barred its gate in vain:
See, for us the Saviour rises;
See, for us He bursts the chain.
Death has barred its gate in vain:
See, for us the Saviour rises;
See, for us He bursts the chain.
Hear we then the grand old story,
True as God's all-faithful word,
Best of tidings to the guilty,
Of a dead and risen Lord.
True as God's all-faithful word,
Best of tidings to the guilty,
Of a dead and risen Lord.
58
The marriage-day
Has come; lift up thy head,
Put on thy bridal robe;
The feast is spread.
Has come; lift up thy head,
Put on thy bridal robe;
The feast is spread.
Shake off earth's dust,
And wash thy weary feet;
Arise, make haste, go forth,
The Bridegroom greet.
And wash thy weary feet;
Arise, make haste, go forth,
The Bridegroom greet.
Sing the new song!
Thy triumph has begun;
Thy tears are wiped away,
Thy night is done!
Thy triumph has begun;
Thy tears are wiped away,
Thy night is done!
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