"Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20
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Words: Reginald Heber, 1819.
Music: "Missionary Hymn," Lowell Mason, 1823
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Courtesy of Yale Divinity Library |
Heber was visiting his father-in-law's home one Saturday evening, and a service with a missionary theme was planned for the next day. His father-in-law (the pastor of the church) wondered if Heber could write something for them to sing. Heber went to the other side of the room, away from the buzz of conversation, and in minutes returned with the first three verses. "There, there, that will do nicely," said the vicar-who had an aversion to long hymns. "No, no," responded Heber, "the sense is incomplete." And he sat down and wrote a fourth verse. Even then, he wasn't satisfied. He begged to be allowed time to add another, but the vicar wouldn't hear of it. One wonders what we'd have received, if he'd been allowed to continue. The hymn was published in the Evangelical Magazine in July 1821. It is considered one of the finest missionary hymns in the English language.