CHURCH.

LAYING OF CORNER-STONE.

450

L. M.

O Lord of hosts, whose glory fills

The bounds of the eternal hills

And yet vouchsaf’st, in Christian lands,

To dwell in temples made with hands;

2. Grant that all we who here to-day

Rejoicing this foundation lay

May be in very deed Thine own,

Built on the precious Corner-stone.

3. The heads that guide endue with skill,

The hands that work preserve from ill,

That we, who these foundations lay

May raise the top-stone in its day.

4. But now and ever, Lord, protect

The temple of Thine own elect;

Be Thou in them and they in Thee,

O ever-blessed Trinity!

J. M. Neale, 1844, abr.

451

8, 7, 8 l

In the name which earth and heaven

Ever worship, praise, and fear,

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Shall a house be builded here.

Here with prayer its deep foundations,

In the faith of Christ, we lay,

Trusting by His help to crown it

With the top-stone in its day.

2. Here as in their due succession

Stone on stone the workmen place;

Thus, we pray, unseen, but surely,

Jesus, build us up in grace;

Till, within these walls completed,

We complete in Thee are found

And to Thee, the one Foundation,

Strong and living stones, are bound.

3. Fair shall be Thine earthly temple;

Here the careless passer-by

Shall bethink him, in its beauty,

Of the holier house on high;

Weary hearts and troubled spirits

Here shall find a still retreat;

Sinful souls shall bring their burden

Here to the Absolver’s feet.

4. Yet with truer, nobler beauty,

Lord, we pray, this house adorn,

Where Thy Bride, Thy Church redeemèd,

Robes her for her marriage morn;

Clothed in garments of salvation,

Rich with gems of heavenly grace,

Spouse of Christ, arrayed and waiting

Till she may behold His face.

5. Here in due and solemn order

May her ceaseless prayer arise;

Here may strains of holy gladness

Lift her heart above the skies;

Here the Word of Life be spoken;

Here the child of God be sealed;

Here the Bread of Heaven be broken,

“Till He come,” Himself revealed.

6. Praise to Thee, O Master Builder,

Maker of the earth and skies;

Praise to Thee, in whom Thy temple,

Fitly framed together, lies;

Praise to Thee, eternal Spirit,

Binding all that lives in one,

Till our earthly praise be ended

And th’ eternal song begun!

J. Ellerton, 1871, a.

452

C. M.

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.

454

8, 7, 6 l

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.

459

L. M.

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.

460

L. M.

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

C. M.

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.

464

8, 7, 8 l

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.

466

7, 6, 8 l

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.

470

8, 7, 6 l

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.

471

7, 6, 8 l

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.

472

7, 6, 8 l

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.

474

7, 6, 8 l