Latinised Hymns

Lord, her watch thy church is keeping

Lord, her watch thy church is keeping;
When shall earth thy rule obey?
When shall end the night of weeping?
When shall break the promised day?
See the whitening harvest languish,
Waiting still the labourers' toil;
Was it vain, thy Son's deep anguish?
Shall the strong retain the spoil?

Tidings, sent to every creature,
Millions yet have never heard;
Can they hear without a preacher?
Lord almighty, give the word:
Give the word; in every nation
Let the gospel trumpet sound,
Witnessing a world's salvation
To the earth's remotest bound.

Then the end: thy church completed,
All thy chosen gathered in,
With their King in glory seated,
Satan bound, and banished sin;
Gone for ever parting, weeping,
Hunger, sorrow, death, and pain:
Lo, her watch thy church is keeping;
Come, Lord Jesus, come to reign!

H.Downton

Tibi mundus dum parebit,
vigilat Ecclesia,
dum promissa lux lucebit,
nox recedet aspera.
Ecce candentes aristae!
Sed messoribus carent.
Te-ne tanta passo, Christe,
rapta raptores tenent?

Omnibus pronuntiandum
quot ignorant milia!
Praedicantem praedicandum
poscit. Deus, impera!
Impera! Tubam praeconem
audiatis, populi!
Orbis et salvationem
noscant eius termini.

Dein electis congregatis
colligens Ecclesiam
cumque rege te locatis,
degravabis Satanam.
Inde cuncta dissipabis
quot dolemus hic mala.
Donec regem te dicabis
vigilat Ecclesia.

MM 10–13.5.97