Part 24
Behold the sure Foundation-stone Which God in Zion lays To build our heavenly hopes upon And His eternal praise!
2. Chosen of God, to sinners dear, Let saints adore the name; They trust their whole salvation here, Nor shall they suffer shame.
3. The foolish builders, scribe and priest, Reject it with disdain; Yet on this Rock the Church shall rest And envy rage in vain.
4. What though the gates of hell withstood, Yet must this building rise; ’Tis Thine own work, Almighty God, And wondrous in our eyes.
Isaac Watts, 1719.
453
6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8 (H. M.)
Christ is our Corner-stone, On Him alone we build: With His true saints alone The courts of heav’n are filled; On His great love our hopes we place, Of present grace and joys above.
2. Oh, then with hymns of praise These hallowed courts shall ring; Our voices we will raise The Three in One to sing And thus proclaim in joyful song, Both loud and long, that glorious name.
3. Here, gracious God, do Thou Forevermore draw nigh; Accept each faithful vow And mark each suppliant sigh; In copious shower, on all who pray, Each holy day, Thy blessing pour.
4. Here may we gain from heaven The grace which we implore, And may that grace, once given, Be with us evermore, Until that day when all the blest To endless rest are called away!
From the Latin, 6th or 7th cent.; J. Chandler, tr., 1837.
DEDICATION OF CHURCH.
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Christ, Thou art the sure Foundation, Thou the Head and Corner-stone; Chosen of the Lord and precious, Binding all the Church in one; Thou Thy Zion’s Help forever And her Confidence alone.
2. To this temple, where we call Thee, Come, O Lord of hosts, to-day; With Thy wonted loving-kindness Hear Thy servants as they pray; And Thy fullest benediction Shed within these walls alway.
3. Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants What they ask of Thee to gain, What they gain from Thee forever With the blessed to retain, And hereafter in Thy glory Evermore with Thee to reign.
4. Praise and honor to the Father, Praise and honor to the Son, Praise and honor to the Spirit, Ever Three and ever One; One in might and one in glory, While eternal ages run.
From the Latin; J. M. Neale, 1851, a.
455
L. M.
Come, Jesus, from the sapphire throne, Where Thy redeemed behold Thy face; Enter this temple, now Thine own, And let Thy glory fill the place.
2. We praise Thee that to-day we see Its sacred walls before Thee stand; ’Tis Thine for us; ’tis ours for Thee, Reared by Thy kind, assisting hand.
3. Oft as returns the day of rest, Let heartfelt worship here ascend; With Thine own joy fill every breast, With Thine own power Thy Word attend.
4. Here in the dark and sorrowing day Bid Thou the throbbing heart be still; Oh, wipe the mourner’s tears away And give new strength to meet Thy will!
5. When at Thine altar we shall meet And keep the feast of dying love, Be our communion ever sweet With Thee and with Thy Church above.
6. Come, faithful Shepherd, feed Thy sheep; In Thine own arms the lambs infold; Give help to climb the heavenward steep Till Thy full glory we behold.
Ray Palmer, 1875, a. and abr.
456
L. M.
Eternal Son of God, O Thou, Before whom earth and heaven bow, Regard Thy people as they raise To Thee their songs of prayer and praise.
2. This house they dedicate to Thee That here Thy glory they may see, Thy body and Thy blood they here Receive their fainting souls to cheer.
3. Here in baptismal water pure They find for sin a gracious cure; Their children here to Thee they bring, O Thou our death-subduing King.
4. Here sin’s diseases healing find; The weak grow strong, light cheers the blind; The troubled heart with peace is blest, And weariness finds heavenly rest.
5. When tempests shake the world around, The rock-built Church secure is found; The gates of hell may here assail Whom Christ defends, but not prevail.
6. To God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit, Three in One, Be praise! Do Thou, whom we adore, Teach us to praise Thee evermore.
From the Latin, tr., 1880.
457
6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8 (H. M.)
In loud, exalted strains, The King of Glory praise; O’er heav’n and earth He reigns Through everlasting days; But Zion, with His presence blest, Is His delight, His chosen rest.
2. O King of Glory, come And with Thy favor crown This temple as Thy home, This people as Thy own; Beneath this roof vouchsafe to show How God can dwell with men below.
3. Now let Thine ear attend Our supplicating cries; Now let our praise ascend, Accepted, to the skies; Now let Thy Gospel’s joyful sound Spread its celestial influence round.
4. Here may the listening throng Imbibe Thy truth and love, Here Christians join the song Of seraphim above, Till all who humbly seek Thy face Rejoice in Thy abounding grace.
B. Francis, 1774.
458
S. M.
Great is the Lord, our God, And let His praise be great; He makes the Church His own abode, His most delightful seat.
2. In Zion God is known, A Refuge in distress; How bright has His salvation shone Through all her palaces!
3. Oft have our fathers told, Our eyes have often seen, How well our God secures the fold Where His own sheep have been.
4. In every new distress We’ll to His house repair; We’ll think upon His wondrous grace And seek deliverance there.
Isaac Watts, 1719, abr.
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Here in Thy name, eternal God, We build this earthly house for Thee; Oh, choose it for Thy fixed abode And keep it from all error free!
2. Here, when Thy people seek Thy face And dying sinners pray to live, Hear Thou in heaven, Thy dwelling-place; And when Thou hearest, Lord, forgive.
3. Here, when Thy messengers proclaim The blessed Gospel of Thy Son, Still by the power of His great name Be mighty signs and wonders done.
4. When children’s voices raise the song, “Hosanna to the heavenly King!” Let heaven with earth the strain prolong, Hosanna! let the angels sing.
5. Thy glory never hence depart; Yet choose not, Lord, this house alone: Thy kingdom come to every heart, In every bosom fix Thy throne.
James Montgomery, 1822.
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS.
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There is within this heart of mine A little church, with sacred shrine, And stained forever with the blood Of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
2. Here dwelleth God the Father, Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One; He is my soul’s beloved Guest And grants my heart true peace and rest.
3. This little church looks poor and odd; But being the abode of God, It has a glorious, peerless grace: It is God’s royal dwelling-place.
4. This little church, Lord, I commend Unto Thy care and pray: Defend And shield it from calamity, Dwell there now and eternally.
From the Latin of B. Walther; B. Derschau, † 1639; A. Crull, tr.
461
8, 7, 8, 7
Lord, in Thy kingdom there shall be No aliens from each other, But even as he loves himself Each saint shall love his brother.
2. When in Thy courts below we meet To mourn our sinful living And with united hearts repeat Confession, creed, thanksgiving:
3. Make us to hear in each sweet word Thy Holy Spirit calling To oneness with Thy Church and Thee, That heavenly bond forestalling.
4. One Baptism and one faith have we, One Spirit sent to win us, One Lord, one Father, and one God, Above and through and in us.
5. Never, by schism or by sin, May we that union sever, Till all, to perfect stature grown, Are one with Thee forever!
J. Anstice, † 1836.
462
S. M.
Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.
2. Before our Father’s throne We pour our ardent prayers; Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, Our comforts and our cares.
3. We share our mutual woes; Our mutual burdens bear; And often for each other flows The sympathizing tear.
4. When we asunder part, It gives us inward pain; But we shall still be joined in heart And hope to meet again.
5. This glorious hope revives Our courage by the way, While each in expectation lives And longs to see the day.
6. From sorrow, toil, and pain, And sin we shall be free; And perfect love and friendship reign Through all eternity.
J. Fawcett, 1772.
463
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The saints on earth and those above But one communion make; Joined to their Lord, in bonds of love, All of His grace partake.
2. One family, we dwell in Him, One Church above, beneath; Though now divided by the stream, The narrow stream, of death.
3. One army of the living God, To His commands we bow; Part of the host have passed the flood, And part are crossing now.
4. Lo, thousands to their endless home Are swiftly borne away; And we are to the margin come And soon must launch as they.
5. Lord Jesus, be our constant Guide; Then, when the word is given, Bid death’s cold flood its waves divide And land us safe in heaven.
Isaac Watts, 1709, and Charles Wesley, 1759, a.
GLORY OF THE CHURCH.
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Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God; He whose word cannot be broken Formed thee for His own abode: On the Rock of Ages founded, What can shake thy sure repose? With salvation’s walls surrounded, Thou may’st smile at all thy foes.
2. See, the streams of living waters Springing from eternal love Well supply thy sons and daughters And all fear of want remove. Who can faint while such a river Ever flows their thirst t’assuage— Grace, which, like the Lord, the Giver, Never fails from age to age?
3. Savior, since of Zion’s city I, through grace, a member am, Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in Thy name. Fading is the worldling’s pleasure, All his boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasure None but Zion’s children know.
John Newton, 1779.
465
8, 7, 8, 7, 4, 7
Zion stands with hills surrounded, Zion, kept by power divine; All her foes shall be confounded, Though the world in arms combine. Happy Zion, What a happy lot is thine!
2. Every human tie may perish, Friend to friend unfaithful prove, Brothers cease their own to cherish, Heaven and earth at last remove; But no changes Can attend Jehovah’s love.
3. In the furnace God may prove thee, Thence to bring thee forth more bright, But can never cease to love thee; Thou art precious in His sight; God is with thee, God, thine everlasting Light.
Thomas Kelly, 1806.
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The Church’s one foundation Is Jesus Christ, her Lord; She is His new creation By water and the Word. From heav’n He came and sought her To be His holy bride; With His own blood He bought her, And for her life He died.
2. Elect from every nation, Yet one o’er all the earth, Her charter of salvation One Lord, one faith, one birth. One holy name she blesses, Partakes one holy food, And to one hope she presses, With every grace endued.
3. Though with a scornful wonder Men see her sore oppressed, By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed, Yet saints their watch are keeping, Their cry goes up, “How long?” And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song.
4. Mid toil and tribulation And tumult of her war She waits the consummation Of peace forevermore, Till with the vision glorious Her longing eyes are blest And the great Church victorious Shall be the Church at rest.
5. Yet she on earth hath union With God, the Three in One, And mystic, sweet communion With those whose rest is won. O happy ones and holy! Lord, give us grace that we, Like them, the meek and lowly, On high may dwell with Thee.
S. J. Stone, 1866.
467
8, 7, 8, 7
Hark! the Church proclaims her honor, And her strength is only this; God hath laid her choice upon her, And the work she doth is His.
2. He His Church has firmly founded, He will guard what He began; We, by sin and foes surrounded, Build her bulwarks as we can.
3. Frail and fleeting are our powers, Short our days, our foresight dim, And we own the choice not ours, We were chosen first by Him.
4. Onward, then! for naught despairing; Calm we follow at His word, Thus through joy and sorrow bearing Faithful witness to our Lord.
5. Though we here must strive in weakness, Though in tears we often bend, What His might began in meekness Shall achieve a glorious end.
S. Preiswerk, 1844; C. Winkworth, tr., 1858.
468
S. M.
I love Thy Zion, Lord, The house of Thine abode, The Church our blest Redeemer saved With His own precious blood.
2. I love Thy Church, O God! Her walls before Thee stand, Dear as the apple of Thine eye, And graven on Thy hand.
3. Should I with scoffers join Her altars to abuse? No! better far my tongue were dumb, My hand its skill should lose.
4. For her my tears shall fall, For her my prayers ascend, To her my cares and toils be given Till toils and cares shall end.
5. Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.
6. Jesus, Thou Friend Divine, Our Savior and our King, Thy hand from every snare and foe Shall great deliverance bring.
7. Sure as Thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield And brighter bliss of heaven.
T. Dwight, 1800, a.
469
6, 6, 6, 6, 8, 8 (H. M.)
Lord of the worlds above, How pleasant and how fair The dwellings of Thy love, Thine earthly temples are! To Thine abode My heart aspires, With warm desires To see my God.
2. Oh, happy souls who pray Where God appoints to hear! Oh, happy men who pay Their constant service there! They praise Thee still; And happy they Who love the way To Zion’s hill.
3. They go from strength to strength Through this dark vale of tears, Till each arrives at length, Till each in heaven appears. Oh, glorious seat, When God, our King, Shall thither bring Our willing feet!
Isaac Watts, 1719.
MISSIONS.
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Saints of God, the dawn is brightening, Token of our coming Lord; O’er the earth the field is whitening; Louder rings the Master’s word: Pray for reapers In the harvest of the Lord!
2. Now, O Lord, fulfil Thy pleasure, Breathe upon Thy chosen band, And, with Pentecostal measure, Send forth reapers o’er our land, Faithful reapers, Gathering sheaves for Thy right hand.
3. Broad the shadow of our nation, Eager millions hither roam; Lo! they wait for Thy salvation. Come, Lord Jesus, quickly come; By Thy Spirit Bring Thy ransomed people home.
4. Soon shall end the time of weeping, Soon the reaping time will come, Heaven and earth together keeping God’s eternal Harvest-home. Saints and angels Shout the world’s great Harvest-home.
M. Maxwell, 1849.
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The morning light is breaking; The darkness disappears; The sons of earth are waking To penitential tears; Each breeze that sweeps the ocean Brings tidings from afar Of nations in commotion, Prepared for Zion’s war.
2. See heathen nations bending Before the God we love, And thousand hearts ascending In gratitude above; While sinners, now confessing, The Gospel call obey And seek the Savior’s blessing, A nation in a day.
3. Blest river of salvation, Pursue thy onward way; Flow thou to every nation, Nor in thy richness stay; Stay not till all the lowly Triumphant reach their home; Stay not till all the holy Proclaim, “The Lord is come!”
S. F. Smith, 1832.
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Our country’s voice is pleading, Ye men of God, arise! His providence is leading, The land before you lies; Day-gleams are o’er it brightening, And promise clothes the soil; Wide fields, for harvest whitening, Invite the reaper’s toil.
2. Go where the waves are breaking On California’s shore, Christ’s precious Gospel taking, More rich than golden ore; On Alleghany’s mountains, Through all the Western vale, Beside Missouri’s fountains, Rehearse the wondrous tale.
3. His love of Christ unfolding, Speed on from east to west, Till all, His Cross beholding, In Him are fully blessed. Great Author of salvation, Haste, haste the glorious day, When we, a ransomed nation, Thy scepter shall obey.
Maria F. Anderson, 1848.
473
L. M.
O Spirit of the living God, In all Thy plenitude of grace, Where’er the foot of man hath trod, Descend on our apostate race.
2. Give tongues of fire and hearts of love To preach the reconciling Word; Give power and unction from above Where’er the joyful sound is heard.
3. Be darkness, at Thy coming, light; Confusion—order, in Thy path; Souls without strength inspire with might; Bid mercy triumph over wrath.
4. O Spirit of the Lord, prepare A sinful world their God to meet; Breathe Thou abroad like morning air Till hearts of stone begin to beat.
5. Baptize the nations; far and nigh The triumphs of the Cross record; The name of Jesus glorify Till every kindred call Him Lord.
6. God from eternity hath willed All flesh shall His salvation see; So be the Father’s love fulfilled, The Savior’s sufferings crowned through Thee.
James Montgomery, 1825.
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From Greenland’s icy mountains, From India’s coral strand, Where Afric’s sunny fountains Roll down their golden sand; From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain, They call us to deliver Their land from error’s chain.
2. What though the spicy breezes Blow soft o’er Ceylon’s isle, Though every prospect pleases And only man is vile; In vain with lavish kindness The gifts of God are strown; The heathen in his blindness Bows down to wood and stone.
3. Shall we, whose souls are lighted With wisdom from on high,— Shall we to men benighted The lamp of life deny? Salvation, O salvation! The joyful sound proclaim Till earth’s remotest nation Has learned Messiah’s name.
4. Waft, waft, ye winds, His story, And you, ye waters, roll, Till, like a sea of glory, It spreads from pole to pole; Till o’er our ransomed nature The Lamb for sinners slain, Redeemer, King, Creator, In bliss returns to reign.
Reginald Heber, 1819.
475
L. M.
O Christ, our true and only Light, Enlighten those who sit in night; Let those afar now hear Thy voice And in Thy fold with us rejoice.
2. Fill with the radiance of Thy grace The souls now lost in error’s maze And all whom in their secret minds Some dark delusion haunts and blinds.
3. And all who else have strayed from Thee, O gently seek! Thy healing be To every wounded conscience given And let them also share Thy heaven.
4. O make the deaf to hear Thy Word And teach the dumb to speak, dear Lord, Who dare not yet the faith avow, Though secretly they hold it now.
5. Shine on the darkened and the cold, Recall the wanderers from Thy fold, Unite all those who walk apart, Confirm the weak and doubting heart.
6. So they with us may evermore Such grace with wondering thanks adore, And endless praise to Thee be given By all Thy Church in earth and heaven.
J. Heermann, 1630; C. Winkworth, tr.
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Hark! the voice of Jesus crying, “Who will go and work to-day? Fields are white and harvests waiting, Who will bear the sheaves away?” Loud and long the Master calleth, Rich reward He offers thee; Who will answer, gladly saying, “Here am I, send me, send me”?
2. If you cannot cross the ocean And the heathen lands explore, You can find the heathen nearer, You can help them at your door; If you cannot give your thousands, You can give the widow’s mite; And the least you give for Jesus Will be precious in His sight.
3. If you cannot speak like angels, If you cannot preach like Paul, You can tell the love of Jesus, You can say He died for all. If you cannot rouse the wicked With the Judgment’s dread alarms, You can lead the little children To the Savior’s waiting arms.
4. Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,” While the souls of men are dying And the Master calls for you. Take the task He gives you gladly, Let His work your pleasure be; Answer quickly when He calleth, “Here am I, send me, send me!”
D. March, 1868.
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Savior, sprinkle many nations; Fruitful let Thy sorrows be; By Thy pains and consolations Draw the Gentiles unto Thee! Of Thy Cross the wondrous story, Be it to the nations told; Let them see Thee in Thy glory And Thy mercy manifold.
2. Let to mortals all be given Thee to know and life to gain, Thee the very God of heaven, Thee the Man for sinners slain! Speak Thou, through the Gospel-tiding, Peace to every human breast; Grant to all in Thee confiding Mercy, solace, hope, and rest.
3. Great the need in every nation, Dense the darkness of sin’s night; Let Thy Spirit bring salvation, Love’s pure flame, and wisdom’s light. Give the Word, Thy preachers strengthen With the prophets’ power of old, Help them Zion’s cords to lengthen, All Thy wandering sheep to fold!
A. C. Coxe, 1851; Stanzas 2 and 3 a., W. G. Polack, 1927.
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Rise, crowned with light, imperial Salem, rise! Exalt thy towering head and lift thine eyes; See heaven its sparkling portals wide display And break upon thee in a flood of day.
2. See a long race thy spacious court adorn; See future sons and daughters, yet unborn, In crowding ranks on every side arise, Demanding life, impatient for the skies.
3. See barbarous nations at thy gates attend, Walk in the light and in thy temple bend; See thy bright altars thronged with prostrate kings, While every land its joyful tribute brings.
4. The seas shall waste, the skies to smoke decay, Rocks fall to dust, and mountains melt away; But fixed this Word, this saving power, remains; Thy realms shall last, thy own Messiah reigns.
Alexander Pope, 1720.
479
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Look from Thy sphere of endless day, O God of mercy and of might! In pity look on those who stray Benighted in this land of light.
2. In peopled vale, in lonely glen, In crowded mart, by stream or sea, How many of the sons of men Hear not the message sent from Thee!
3. Send forth Thy heralds, Lord, to call The thoughtless young, the hardened old, A scattered, homeless flock, till all Be gathered to Thy peaceful fold.
4. Send them Thy mighty Word to speak, Till faith shall dawn and doubt depart, To awe the bold, to stay the weak, And bind and heal the broken heart.