Thou That Sendest Sun And Rain

This is the text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed as a hymn for Times of Trouble [Scarcity]:

Thou that sendest sun and rain,
Ruling over land and sea,
May we ne’er of Thee complain,
Ne’er, whate’er our lot may be.

Whether sun or rain in turn
Ripen or destroy the grain,
May we still this lesson learn—
Ne’er to murmur or complain.

Fewer flocks or fewer herds,
Scanty though our store may be,
Still we seem to hear the words,
‘Trust, ye faithful, trust in Me.’

All we have we know is Thine,
Thine to give and take away;
Feed us then with food Divine,
Feed us this and every day.

Thus, as changeful seasons bring,
Wealth or want, whiche’er it be,
Uncomplaining still we’ll sing,
Simply trusting all to Thee. Amen.

Words: Godfrey Thring, 1862.
Tune (Church Hymns): “St. Chrysostom” Henry J. Gauntlett, 1876.
Meter: 7.7.7.7.

God, Creator And Preserver!

This is the text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed as a hymn for Times of Trouble [Scarcity]:

God, Creator and Preserver!
God, who feedest man and beast
God, whose tender mercy careth
For the weakest and the least;

If in former times of gladness,
In the fulness of our bread,
Harvest gifts to Thee we offered,
Harvest songs to Thee we said;

Shall we not in trustful patience
Cast our care upon Thee now?
Shall we not in meek obedience
To thy righteous judgments bow?

Though the earth withhold her increase,
Though the heaven restrain its dew,
Though his hand the reaper fill not,
Yet we know that Thou art true.

Not in vain the mighty promise,
From beneath the Bow of Peace,
Told us, while the earth remaineth,
Seed-time, harvest, shall not cease;

But our sins have stayed Thy blessing,
Our rebellions drawn Thy sword;
Pity now Thy mourning people;
Think upon Thy Covenant, Lord!

So the sunshine of Thy bounty
Once again shall dry our tears;
And Thy gracious hand restore us
All our canker-eaten years. Amen.

Words: John Ellerton, 1870.
Tune (Church Hymns): “Langdale” Richard Redhead, 1859.
Meter: 8.7.8.7.

O Lord Of Hosts, The Earth Is Thine

This is the text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed as a hymn for Times of Trouble [War]:

O Lord of Hosts, the earth is Thine;
The nations bow beneath Thy sway;
Thy wisdom, love, and power divine
All things in heaven and earth obey.

The dearth, the pestilence, the sword,
These Thy most righteous judgments are;
Yet mark not our deservings, Lord,
But lift from us the scourge of war.

The loftiness of man bow down;
The haughtiness of man make low:
Let all the world Thy greatness own;
And Peace return to dwell below.

O’er passions fierce and hatred sore
Shed down Thy healing Love again;
Bid angel choirs sing out once more
“Peace upon earth, good will to men.”

O Father, teach us brother’s love;
O Saviour, make us one in Thee;
O Spirit, pour forth from above
Mercy and Peace and Unity. Amen.

Words: William W. How, 1864.
Tune (Church Hymns): “Commandments” Geneva Psalter, 1562.
Meter: 8.8.8.8.

O Lord Of Life And Death, We Come

This is the original text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed as a hymn for Times of Trouble [Pestilence]:

O Lord of life and death, we come
In sorrow to Thy Throne;
Yet not bewildered, blind and dumb,
Before some power unknown.

The scourge is in our Father’s hand;
The plague comes forth from Thee;
Oh, give us hearts to understand,
And faith Thy ways to see!

Forgive the foul neglect that brought
Thy chastening to our door;
The homes uncared-for, souls untaught,
The unregarded poor.

The slothful ease, the greed of gain,
The wasted years, forgive;
Purge out our sins by needful pain,
Then turn, and bid us live.

So shall the lives for which we plead
Be spared to praise Thee still;
And we, from fear and danger freed,
Be strong to do Thy wjll. Amen.

Words: John Ellerton, 1871.
Tune (Church Hymns): “Windsor” George Kirbye, 1592.*
Meter: 8.6.8.6.

*This is the authorship as listed in Church Hymns with Tunes. Sources vary on author and year in the 16th century.

Dread Jehovah! God Of Nations

This is the original text of this hymn as it appears in the April 1804 edition of The Christian Observer under the header “Hymn for the Fast Day. May 25,1804.”:

“Dread Jehovah! God of Nations,
From thy Temple in the Skies,
Hear thy People’s Supplications,
And for their Deliv’rance rise.
Lo! with deep Contrition turning,
In thy Holy Place we bend;
Fasting, praying, weeping, mourning,
Hear us, spare us, and defend.

“Foes, who’ve ravag’d peaceful Regions,
Now for us the Yoke prepare;
And if thou forsake our Legions,
We, like them, the Yoke must wear.
Shall Religion’s Foes enslave us?
Shall their Heathen Tongues exclaim,
‘Where’s your God?’ O rise to save us,
And assert Thy glorious Name.

”Though our Sins, each Heart confounding,
Long and loud for vengeance call;
Thou hast Mercy as abounding,
Thou hast Blood can cleanse them all.
Let that Mercy veil Transgression,
Let that Blood our Guilt efface;
Save thy People from Oppression,
Save from Spoil thy Holy Place.

“Hear, O God! the Vows we tender;
With our Hosts to battle go;
Shield the Head of each Defender,
And confound the impious Foe.
So when ceas’d the Battle’s raging,
Thine shall be the Victor’s Praise;
And in thy holy Bonds engaging,
We will serve thee all our Days.

Words: Anonymous, with the initials “C.F.” in the April 1804 edition of the Chrustian Observer.
Tune (Church Hymns): “Lowton” Albert Lowe, 1875. (8.7.8.7.)
Meter: 8.7.8.7.D

This is the text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed as a hymn for Times of Trouble:

Lord Almighty, God of nations,
From Thy temple in the skies
Hear Thy people’s supplications,
Now for their deliverance rise.

Lo! with deep contrition turning,
Humbly at Thy feet we bend;
Hear us, fasting, praying, mourning,
Hear us, spare us, and defend.

Though our sins, our hearts confounding,
Long and loud for vengeance call,
Thou hast mercy more abounding,
Jesus’ Blood can cleanse from all.

Let that love veil our transgression,
Let that Blood our guilt efface;
Save Thy people from oppression,
God of love and power and grace. Amen.

Great King Of Nations, Hear Our Prayer, While At Thy Feet We Fall

This is the text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed as a hymn for Times of Trouble:

Great King of nations, hear our prayer, while at Thy feet we fall,
And humbly, with united cry, to Thee for mercy call;
The guilt is ours, but grace is Thine; O turn us not away,
But hear us from Thy lofty throne, and help us when we pray.

Our fathers’ sins were manifold, and ours no less, we own,
Yet wondrously from age to age Thy goodness hath been shown;
When dangers, like a stormy sea, beset our country round,
To Thee we looked, to Thee we cried, and help in Thee was found.

With one consent we meekly bow beneath Thy chastening hand,
And, pouring forth confession meet, mourn with our mourning land;
With pitying eye behold our need, as thus we lift our prayer,
Correct us with Thy judgments, Lord, then let Thy mercy spare. Amen.

Words: John Hampden Gurney, 1838.
Tune (Church Hymns): “Gretton” Robert Brown-Borthwick, 1874.
Meter: 8.6.8.6.D

Lord Of Life, Prophetic Spirit

This is the text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed as a hymn for Theological Colleges:

Lord of life, prophetic Spirit,
In sweet measure evermore
To the holy children dealing
Each his gift from Thy rich store,
Bless Thy family, adoring
As in Israel’s schools of yore.

God and Father of all spirits,
Whose dread call young Joshua knew,
Forty days in darkness waiting
With Thy servant good and true,
Thence to wage Thy war descending;
Own us, Lord, Thy champions true.

One Thy light, the temple filling,
Holy, Holy, Holy Three!
Meanest men and brightest Angels
Wait alike the word from Thee;
Highest musings, lowliest worship,
Must their preparation be.

Here we stand; Redeemer, send us!
But because Thy work is fire,
And our lips, unclean and earthly,
Breathe no breath of high desire;
Send Thy Seraph from Thine altar
Veiled, but in his bright attire.

Cause him, Lord, to fly full swiftly
With the mystic coal in hand,
Sin-consuming, soul-transforming,
Faith and love will understand,
Touch our lips, Thou awful Mercy,
With Thine own keen, healing brand!

Thou didst come that fire to kindle:
Fain would we Thy torches prove,
Far and wide Thy beacons lighting
With the undying spark of love;
Only feed our flame, we pray Thee,
With Thy breathings from above. Amen.

Words: John Keble, 1856.
Tune (Church Hymns): “Oriel” Caspar Ett, 1840.
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.7.

Captain Of Our Salvation, Take

This is the text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed as a hymn for Theological Colleges:

Captain of our salvation, take
The souls that here are trained for Thee,
And fit for Thy great service make
These heirs of immortality;
And let them in Thine image rise,
And then transplant to Paradise.

Unspotted from the world and pure,
Preserve them for Thy glorious cause,
Accustomed daily to endure
The welcome burden of Thy cross:
Inured to toil and patient pain,
Till all Thy perfect mind they gain.

Train up Thy hardy soldiers, Lord,
In all their Captain’s steps to tread;
Then send them to proclaim Thy word,
Thy Gospel through the world to spread;
Freely as they receive to give,
And preach the Death by which we live! Amen.

Words: Charles Wesley, 1763.
Tune (Church Hymns): “Huntingdon” Henry J. Gaunlett, 1805-1876.
Meter: 8.8.8.8; 8.8.

Eternal Shepherd, God Most High

This is the text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed as a hymn for Ember Days, and for the Clergy (During a Vacancy in Diocese or Parish.):

Eternal Shepherd, God most high,
In mercy hearken as we cry,
And send us, in our time of need,
A pastor wise, Thy flock to lead.

Upon him pour the Holy Ghost,
With all the flame of Pentecost;
With Peter’s faith, vouchsafe him all
The love of John, the zeal of Paul.

Be his, like Thee, O Jesu meek,
To heal the bruised, to stay the weak,
And, in Thy might made brave and strong,
To war with sin, to right the wrong.

So leading where Thyself hast trod,
So guiding with Thy staff and rod,
May he Thy sheep in safety bring
To those green pastures of the King.

And when at last, O gracious Lord,
Thou shalt bestow his full reward,
Let those whom he hath led aright
Be jewels in his crown of light. Amen.

Words: Richard F. Littledale, 1867.
Tune (Church Hymns): “Breslau” Clauder’s Psalmodia Nova, 1630.
Meter: 8.8.8.8.

O Thou Who Makest Souls To Shine

This is the text of this hymn as it appears in Church Hymns (1871) where it is listed as a hymn for Ember Days, and for the Clergy:

O Thou who makest souls to shine
With light from brighter worlds above,
And droppest glistening dew divine
On all who seek a Saviour’s love,

Do Thou Thy benediction give
On all who teach, on all who learn,
That all Thy Church may holier live,
And every lamp more brightly burn.

Give those that teach pure hearts and wise,
Faith, hope, and love, all warmed by prayer:
Themselves first training for the skies,
They best will raise their people there

Give those that learn the willing ear,
The spirit meek, the guileless mind;
Such gifts will make the lowliest here
Far better than a kingdom find.

Oh! bless the shepherd; bless the sheep;
That guide and guided both be one;
One in the faithful watch they keep
Until this hurrying life be done.

If thus, good Lord, Thy grace be given,
Our glory meets us ere we die;
Before we upward pass to heaven
We taste our immortality. Amen.

Words: John Armstrong, 1847.
Tune (Church Hymns): “Wareham” William Knapp, 1738.
Meter: 8.8.8.8.