'Twas the Commission of Our Lord

Verse 1

’Twas the commission of our Lord,
“Go, teach the nations, and baptize;”
The nations have receiv’d the word
Since he ascended to the skies.

Verse 2

He sits upon th’ eternal hills,
With grace and pardon in his hands,
And sends his covenant with the seals,
To bless the distant British lands.

Verse 3

“Repent, and be baptiz’d, (he saith)
For the remission of your sins;”
And thus our sense assists our faith,
And shews us what his gospel means.

Verse 4

Our souls he washes in his blood,
As water makes the body clean;
And the good Spirit from our God
Descends like purifying rain.

Verse 5

Thus we engage ourselves to thee,
And seal our covenant with the Lord:
O may the great eternal Three
In heaven our solemn vows record!