Amazing Grace
Bourne H. Draper, 1775–1843
How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7)
Many of us are often guilty of taking our pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders for granted. Seldom do we take time to really know them as persons or to let them know how much we appreciate their ministries.
Where would our world be today had there never been any missionaries and ministers of the gospel? Wherever the gospel has been preached, churches, schools, hospitals, social improvements, and advances in civilization have followed. Even in our own local communities it is often the rescue missions and other Christian organizations that are doing the most effective work in meeting the total needs of people. How important it is, then, that we as God’s children support these leaders and organizations with our prayers and financial gifts.
“Ye Christian Heralds” is taken from a seven-verse poem titled “Farewell to Missionaries,” which first appeared in an English newspaper in about 1803. Two years later it was reprinted in a hymnal with the title “On the Departure of the Missionaries.” One of the poem’s omitted verses not found in our hymnals is of interest:
Set up thy throne where Satan reigns, on Africa shores, on India’s plains;
On wilds and continents unknown, and be the universe thine own.
The author of this text, Bourne Draper, was a Baptist minister who served most of his life in the Baptist church in Southampton, England. Although he authored a number of other works, Draper is best known today for this one hymn written as a young man while he was preparing for the Christian ministry.
Ye Christian heralds, go proclaim salvation through Emmanuel’s name;
to distant climes the tidings bear, and plant the Rose of Sharon there.
God shield you with a wall of fire; with holy zeal your hearts inspire;
bid raging winds their fury cease, and calm the tempests into peace.
And when our labors all are o’er, then we shall meet to part no more;
meet with the ransomed throng to fall, and crown our Savior Lord of all!
Determine to read in the near future a biography of some great missionary statesman. Also write a personal letter to one of your church missionaries. Then let your pastor know how much you appreciate his ministry. Reflect again on this hymn—
For Today: Psalm 96; Isaiah 6:8; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; Romans 10:13–15; 1 Corinthians 3:9
Osbeck, K. W.
- Sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord all the earth. Sing unto the Lord, and praise his Name: declare his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among all nations, and his wonders among all people. For the Lord is great and much to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Strength and glory are before him: power and beauty are in his Sanctuary. Give unto the Lord, ye families of the people: give unto the Lord glory and power. Give unto the Lord the glory of his Name: bring an offering, and enter into his courts. Worship the Lord in the glorious Sanctuary: tremble before him all the eaeth. Say among the Nations, The Lord reigneth: Surely the world shall be stable, and not move, and he shall judge the people in righteousness. Let the heavens reoice, and let the earth be glad: let the sea roar, and all that therein is. Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it: let all the trees of the wood then rejoice, Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he will judge the world with righteousness, and the people in his truth. Psalm 96
- Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? and who shall go for us? Then I said, Here am I, send me. Isaiah 6:8
- And he said unto them, God ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15
- But ye shall receive power of the holy Ghost, when he shall come on you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8
- For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved. But how shall they call on him, in whom they have not beleived? and how shall they believe in him, of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them which bring glad tidings of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:13–15
- For we together are God’s laborers: ye are God’s husbandry, and God’s building. 1 Corinthians 3:9
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