For All The Saints
For All the Saints
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
Thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true, and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
IN 1864 Bishop William How wrote this hymn for All Saints Day. He cited Hebrews 12:1 in his original title, but he drew on all of Hebrews 11 for inspiration. That’s the famous “faith chapter,” which praises the faithful deeds of a score of Old Testament heroes.
The author might be considered a hero of the faith himself. He was a man of the people, regularly reaching out to minister to the poor and needy in his area. Once he listed the characteristics that a minister should have; among them was being “wholly without thought of self.” Those who knew him said that Bishop How was like that, selflessly caring for others.
Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself. We are carefully joined together in him, becoming a holy temple for the Lord.
Ephesians 2:20-21
From the book
