522 The Church

 

1.Glorious things of thee are spoken,

Zion city of our God;

he whose word can not 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 when such a river

ever will their thirst assuage?

Grace which, like the Lord, the giver,

never fails from age to age.

 

3. Round each habitation hovering,

see the cloud and fire appear

for a glory and a covering,

showing that the Lord is near.

Thus deriving from their banner,

light by night and shade by day,

safe they feed upon the manna

which he gives them when they pray.

 

4. Blest inhabitants of Zion,

washed in the Redeemer’s blood!

Jesus, whom their souls rely on,

makes them kings and priests to God.

‘Tis his love his people raises

over self to reign as kings:

and as priests, his solemn praises

each for a thank offering brings.

 

Words: John Newton (1725-1807), alt. Music: Austria, Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809); Desc. Michael E. Young (b. 1939)