621   Gracious Father Guard Thy Children




[1]
Gracious Father guard Thy children
From the foe s destructive power;
Save O save them Lord from falling
In this dark and trying hour.
Thou wilt surely prove Thy people
All our graces must be tried;
But Thy word illumes our pathway
And in God we still confide.

[2]
We are in the time of waiting;
Soon we shall behold our Lord
Wafted far away from sorrow
To receive our rich reward.
Keep us Lord till Thine appearing
Pure unspotted from the world;
Let Thy Holy Spirit cheer us
Till Thy banner is unfurled.

[3]
With what joyful exultation
Shall the saints Thy banner see
When the Lord for whom we ve waited
Shall proclaim the jubilee!
Freedom from this world s pollutions;
Freedom from all sin and pain;
Freedom from the wiles of Satan
And from death s destructive reign.