1. Gracious Father, guard Thy children From the foe's destructive power; Save, O save them, Lord, from falling In this dark and trying hour. Thou wilt surely prove Thy people, All our graces must be tried; But Thy world illumes our path-way, And in God we still confide. 2. We are in the time of waiting; Soon we shall behold our Lord, Wafted far away from sorrow, To receive our rich reward. Keep us, Lord till Thine appearing, Pure unspotted from the world; Let Thy Holy Spirit cheer us Til Thy banner is unfurled. 3. With what joyful exaltation Shall the saints Thy banner see, When the Lord for whom we've waited Shall proclaim the jubilee! Freedom from this world's populations; Freedom from all sin and pain; Freedom from the wiles of Satan, And from death's destructive reign.