4856 5. 6 5. Ter
‘FORWARD!’ be our watchword,
   Steps and voices joined;
Seek the things before us,
    Not a look behind:
See the fiery pillar
    At our army’s head;
Who shall dream of shrinking
    By our Saviour led?
        Forward through the desert,
            Through the toil and fight:
        Jordan flows before us,
            Zion beams with light.
 
2  Forward, flock of Jesus,
    Salt of all the earth,
Till each yearning purpose
    Springs to glorious birth:
Take the Word of mercy,
    Work while it is day:
Spread through all the nations
    Love’s redeeming ray;
        Lead them out of error,
            By the Spirit’s might;
        Urge them from their darkness
            Forward into light.
 
3  Glory upon glory
    Has our God prepared,
For the souls that love Him
    One day to be shared:
Eye has not beheld them,
    Ear has never heard,
Nor of them has uttered
    Thought or speech a word:
        But in future glory,
            Where the heavens are bright,
        Shall the veil be lifted
            And our faith be sight.
 
4  Over yon horizon,
    Rise the City’s towers,
Where our God abideth—
    That fair home is ours!
Shining walls of jasper,
    Streets of crystal gold,
And, of life, a river
    Shedding joys untold!
        Press, then, onward thither,
            In the Spirit’s might,
        Pilgrims, to your country—
            Forward into lig
 
Henry Alford, 1810-71‡