Brethren Archive

NUMBER: 168

The Night Is Far Spent, And The Day Is At Hand

by Thomas Kelly (1769-1854)


Tune: Hanover 10.10.11.11.


1 THE night is far spent, and the day is at hand:
No sign to be looked for; the Star's in the sky;
Rejoice then, ye saints, 'tis your Lord's own command;
Rejoice, for the coming of Jesus draws nigh.

2 What a day will that be, when the Saviour appears!
How welcome to those who have shared in His cross!
A crown incorruptible then will be theirs,
A rich compensation for suffering and loss.

3 What is loss in this world, when compared to that day,
To the glory that then will from heaven be revealed?
"The Saviour is coming," His people may say;

"The Lord whom we look for, our Sun and our
Shield."

4 O pardon us, Lord! that our love to Thy name
Is so faint, with so much our affections to move;
Our coldness might fill us with grief and with shame,
So much to be loved, and so little to love.

5 O kindle within us a holy desire,
Like that which was found in Thy people of old,
Who tasted Thy love, and whose hearts were on fire,
While they waited, in patience, Thy face to behold.





Comments:
Gregory said ...
When the hymnbook is revised, please could the scansion in the last line be fixed. The Taylor books have, While waiting in patience.... which is heaps better.
Monday, Apr 5, 2021 : 07:41
Steve said ...
Hi Gregory,

The 1903 version of "THE LITTLE FLOCK" has the same words in the last line as here, but in subsequent versions (i.e. 1932, 1951, 1962, 1973 & 1984) the wording was changed.

The "original" words are great, but the "amended" words certainly fit the tune(s) much better!

Regards,

Steve
Monday, Apr 5, 2021 : 18:30
Nick Fleet said ...
Don't worry, all 'irregular' meters will be addressed - I've already tackled Darby's 'This world is a wilderness wide'
Thursday, Apr 8, 2021 : 21:57
Gregory Morris said ...
You've amended Mr Darby? Isn't that a hanging offence?
Thursday, Jul 28, 2022 : 04:21


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