Dear Lord and Father of Mankind Hymn

This is the hymn, ‘Dear Lord and Father of mankind’, written by John Whittier (1807-92), set to the hymn tune REPTON, composed by C. Hubert H. Parry (1848-1918) from a song in his oratorio, ‘Judith’.

It was sung at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on Monday 13th March 2017.
Sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey. James O’Donnell is Director of Music and Master of the Choristers at the Abbey.

[sc_fs_faq html=”true” headline=”h2″ img=”” question=”Who is John Greenleaf Whittier?” img_alt=”” css_class=””] He was an American Quaker Poet and advocate of the abolition of slavery. Name of his siblings are Elizabeth Hussey Whittier. He was best know for his anti-slavery poetries that earned him a place among the esteemed Fireside Poets. [/sc_fs_faq]

Lyrics

Dear Lord and Father of mankind
Forgive our foolish ways
Reclothe us in our rightful mind
In purer lives Thy service find
In deeper reverence, praise
In deeper reverence, praise

In simple trust like theirs who heard
Beside the Syrian sea
The gracious calling of the Lord
Let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow Thee
Rise up and follow Thee

Drop Thy still dews of quietness
Till all our strivings cease
Take from our souls the strain and stress
And let our ordered lives confess
The beauty of Thy peace
The beauty of Thy peace

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm
Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire
Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire
O still, small voice of calm
O still, small voice of calm

Additional Lyrics

O Sabbath rest by Galilee
O calm of hills above
Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
The silence of eternity
Interpreted by love!

With that deep hush subduing all
Our words and works that drown
The tender whisper of Thy call,
As noiseless let Thy blessing fall
As fell Thy manna down