God of the nations, who hast led
Thy children since the world began,
Through doubt and struggle, pain and tears,
Unfolding thy eternal plan;
From countless hilltops as of old
The fire upon the altar flares;
Through countless rites, in countless tongues,
Men offer their imperfect prayers;
Hasten the time of our release,
Bring in thy reign of truth and peace.

O Jesus Christ, Incarnate Son,
Who bore our flesh that men might see
The Vision of the Perfect Life
Fashioned in their humanity;
By all thy words of heavenly truth,
By all thy deeds of mercy wrought,
402
By all the passion of thy cross,
By the redemption thou hast brought;
Hasten the time of our release,
Bring in thy reign of truth and peace.

O Holy Spirit, who dost touch
The prophets with thy sacred fire,
Eternal Wisdom to whose light
All seekers after truth aspire;
Behold the warring sons of men,
The helpless by the strong oppressed,
The truth with error still concealed,
The evil grudgingly confessed;
Hasten the time of our release,
Bring in thy reign of truth and peace.

O God Triune, thy Church today
In penitence before thee kneels,
Mourning her years of slothful ease,
Her deafness to the world's appeals;
Divided where she should be one,
Enamoured of a lesser strife,
Tithing the mint and cummin while
Men perish for the Bread of Life;
Hasten the time of our release,
Bring in thy reign of truth and peace.

Restore to us the vision, Lord,
Descend with fires of Pentecost;
Our tongues unloose, our hearts inflame,
To preach the Gospel to the lost:
Here at thy feet our prayer is made,
Here life and wealth we dedicate;
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
Lord, thy anointing we await;
Hasten the time of our release,
Bring in thy reign of truth and peace.

Amen.