Lyrics
1. God of the prophets!
Bless the prophets’ sons,
Elijah’s mantle o’er Elisha cast;
Each age its solemn task
may claim but once;
Make each one nobler, stronger,
than the last.
2. Anoint them prophets!
Make their ears attent
To Thy divinest speech; their hearts awake
To human need; their lips make eloquent
To gird the right and every evil break.
3. Anoint them priests!
Strong intercessors, they
For pardon, and for charity and peace.
Ah, if with them the world might, now astray,
Find in our Lord from all its woes release!
4. Anoint them kings;
aye, kingly kings, O Lord.
Anoint them with the Spirit of Thy Son.
Theirs not a jeweled crown,
a blood stained sword;
Theirs, by sweet love,
for Christ a kingdom won.
5. Make them apostles, heralds of Thy cross,
Forth may they go
to tell all realms Thy grace;
Inspired of Thee,
may they count all but loss,
And stand at last with joy before Thy face.
6. O mighty age of prophet kings, return!
O truth, O faith, enrich our urgent time!
Lord Jesus Christ, again with us sojourn;
A weary world awaits Thy reign sublime.
7. **alt verses***
8. Anoint them prophets!
Teach them thine intent:
to human need
their quickened hearts awake;
fill them with power,
their lips make eloquent
for righteousness
that shall all evil break.
9. Anoint them priests!
Help them to intercede
with all thy royal priesthood
born of grace;
through them thy Church
presents in words and deed
Christ’s one true sacrifice
with thankful praise.
10. Anoint them kings!
Yea, kingly kings, O Lord!
Anoint them with
the Spirit of thy Son:
theirs not a monarch’s crown
or tyrant’s sword;
theirs by the love
of Christ a kingdom won.