O Son of God, Our Captain of Salvation

O Son of God

our cap­tain of sal­va­tion

Thyself by suf­fer­ing schooled to hu­man grief

We bless Thee for Thy sons of con­so­la­tion

Who fol­low in the steps of Thee their chief.

Those whom Thy Spir­it’s dread vo­ca­tion sev­ers

To lead the van­guard of Thy con­quer­ing host;

Whose toil­some years are spent in brave en­dea­vors

To bear Thy sav­ing name from coast to coast.

Those whose bright faith makes fee­ble hearts grow strong­er

And sends fresh war­ri­ors to the great cam­paign

Bids the lone con­vert feel es­tranged no long­er

And wins the sun­dered to be one again.

And all true help­ers

pa­tient

kind

and skill­ful

Who shed Thy light across our dark­ened earth

Counsel the doubt­ing

and re­strain the will­ful

Soothe the sick bed

and share the child­ren’s mirth.

Such was Thy Le­vite

strong in self obla­tion

To cast his all at Thine apos­tles’ feet;

He whose new name

through eve­ry Christ­ian na­tion

From age to age our thank­ful strains re­peat.

Thus

Lord

Thy bless­èd saints in me­mo­ry keep­ing

Still be Thy Church’s watch­word

Com­fort ye

Till in our Fa­ther’s house shall end all weep­ing

And ev­ery want be sa­tis­fied in Thee.