Prince of Peace; Thou Glorious Rider

Prince of Peace,

Thou Glorious Rider,

Leading forth the justified-

Heaven's Highest; Mankind's Finest;

Son of God; Triumphant Man.

 

How we praise You, Great Redeemer!

How we bless Your sacrifice!

You have wholly done the labor,

Bridging earth and Paradise!

 

 

Prince of Peace,

Thou Faithful Servant,

Humbly leaving glory by;

Come to bear the wrath of sinners;

Hammered on a cross to die.

 

How we thank You Selfless Savior!

How Your crown we so defiled!

You gave up Your life and blood that

God and man be reconciled.

 

 

Prince of Peace,

Thou First in Love, Who

Leads to life the lost and strayed.

Ever seeking, ever calling;

Shepherd of the souls You saved.

 

How we love You, Gracious Savior!

How we need You, Love Divine!

You, our Blessed Mediator,

Prince of Peace, all praise be Thine!

 

--K. Hartnett, June 1996

 

I used a lot of capitalized words in this poem - many more than I usually do.  Somehow they just seem more appropriate to me as each of the spots seems more like a title than just a description.  Christ incarnates every perfection.  In this sense, He owns every glorious title.

The reference to "Rider" comes from biblical images such as in Deut. 33:26, Psalm 68:33, Psalm 104:3 and Revelation 19:11.

I liked the second part of verse one enough to reuse it as the chorus in Jesus Christ, Our Great Redeemer