Publish to the Perishing

"Arise; for this matter belongeth unto thee... be of good courage, and do it" (Ezra 10:4).  "Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight" (Psalm 119:35).  "Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction" (Proverbs 31:8).  "A great deal they published it, and were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: He maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak" (Mark 7:36,37). 

Arise and publish now the news

As long as God shall give us breath. 

The destiny that souls must choose

Is either life in Christ, or death. 

The Lord has shown to us the path

To preach the Gospel of His grace

And warn the lost of coming wrath

That they might turn to seek His face.

So many have been rendered blind

To things that have eternal weight. 

The deaf and dumb are not inclined  

To warn them of destruction's fate. 

Yet Christ, who gave us ears to hear

And gave to us a tongue to speak,

Has made the Gospel very clear

That we may reach both Jew and Greek.   

The time is late for us to tell

What Christ our Savior came to do.

He died to save our souls from hell;

He rose to show His Word is true! 

O Lord, we see the time is short

As many souls are swept away,

Yet many halt at Your report

Who still would rather go astray. 

Revive us, Lord, to be admonished

When we are slow to reach the lost.  

Should not we rather be astonished

At grace, recalling what it cost?

We thank You, Lord, for cherishing

Our souls so much that You would die

And publish to the perishing

That You will heed the sinner's cry.