Sung during the Sunday worship at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London (Spurgeon’s).
Hymn 97 (based on Psalm 97) from our hymn book, Psalms & Hymns of Reformed Worship.
HE reigns, the Lord, the Saviour reigns!
Praise Him in earnest, noblest strains,
Let the whole earth in songs rejoice,
And distant islands join their voice.
In robes of righteousness He comes,
Shakes the wide earth, and cleaves the tombs,
Before Him burns devouring fire,
The mountains melt, the seas retire.
The Lord is come, the heavens proclaim
His birth; the nations learn His name,
And the bright armies of the skies
Worship where Christ the Saviour lies.
Come all that love His holy name,
Hate every work of sin and shame;
He guards the souls of all His friends,
And from the snares of hell defends.
Immortal light and joys unknown
Are for the saints in darkness sown,
Those glorious seeds shall spring and rise,
And their bright harvest bless our eyes.
Rejoice, ye righteous, and record
The sacred honours of the Lord;
None but the soul that feels His grace,
Can triumph in His holiness.
Author: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Tune: Creation
Composer: Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809) arr. William Gardiner (1770-1853)