"Go, Preach my Gospel, Saith the Lord"
In Francis Wayland's two volume biography of the life and labors of Adoniram Judson, he writes how a young Judson's, about 7 years of age, favorite hymn was then "Go, Preach my Gospel, Saith the Lord," by Isaac Watts. Considering Judson was not converted until he was a young man, you cannot help but delight in God's providence, that this favorite hymn of Judson's was to be a divine foreshadowing of his life and call to come. Here are the lyrics to a missionary hymn, indeed:
Bid the whole earth My grace receive;
He shall be saved that trusts My Word,
He shall be damned that won’t believe.
I’ll make your great commission known,
And ye shall prove My Gospel true,
By all the works that I have done,
By all the wonders ye shall do.
Go heal the sick, go raise the dead,
Go cast out devils in My name;
Nor let My prophets be afraid,
Though Greeks reproach, and Jews blaspheme.
Teach all the nations My commands,
He spake, and light shone round His head;
On a bright cloud to Heav’n He rode;
They to the farthest nations spread
The grace of their ascended God.
Go preach My Gospel,saith the Lord,
Bid the whole earth My grace receive;
He shall be saved that trusts My Word,
He shall be damned that won’t believe.
I’ll make your great commission known,
And ye shall prove My Gospel true,
By all the works that I have done,
By all the wonders ye shall do.
Go heal the sick, go raise the dead,
Go cast out devils in My name;
Nor let My prophets be afraid,
Though Greeks reproach, and Jews blaspheme.
Teach all the nations My commands,
"I’m with you till the world shall end;
All power is trusted to My hands,
All power is trusted to My hands,
I can destroy, and I defend.
He spake, and light shone round His head;
On a bright cloud to Heav’n He rode;
They to the farthest nations spread
The grace of their ascended God.
