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Verse 1

Oh, thou, whose own vast temple stands,
Built over earth and sea!
Accept the walls that human hands
Have raised to worship thee.

Verse 2

Lord! from thine inmost glory send,
Within these walls t’ abide,
The peace that dwelleth without end
Serenely by thy side!

Verse 3

May erring minds, that worship here,
Be taught the better way;
And they who mourn, and they who fear,
Be strengthened as they pray.

Verse 4

May faith grow firm, and love grow warm,
And pure devotion rise,
While, round these hallowed walls, the storm
Of earth-born passion dies.

Verse 1

God of the universe! to thee
This sacred house we rear,
And now, with songs and bended knee,
Invoke thy presence here.

Verse 2

Long may this echoing dome resound
The praises of thy name,
These hallowed walls to all around
The Triune God proclaim.

Verse 3

Here let thy love, thy presence dwell;
Thy glory here make known;
Thy people’s home, oh! come and fill,
And seal it as thine own.

Verse 4

And, when the last long Sabbath morn
Upon the just shall rise,
May all who own thee here be borne
To mansions in the skies.

Verse 1

Arise, O King of grace, arise,
And enter to thy rest;
Lo! thy church waits, with longing eyes,
Thus to be owned and blest.

Verse 2

Enter with all thy glorious train.
Thy Spirit and thy word;
All that the ark did once contain
Could no such grace afford.

Verse 3

Here, mighty God, accept our vows,
Here let thy praise be spread;
Bless the provisions of thy house
And fill thy poor with bread.

Verse 4

Here let the Son of David reign,
Let God’s Anointed shine;
Justice and truth his court maintain
With love and power divine.

Verse 5

Here let him hold a lasting throne,
And as his kingdom grows,
Fresh honors shall adorn his crown.
And shame confound his foes.

Verse 1

An earthly temple here we raise,
Lord God, our Savior! to thy praise;
Oh! make thy gracious presence known,
While now we lay its corner-stone.

Verse 2

Within the house thy servants rear,
Deign by thy Spirit to appear;
On all its walls salvation write,
From corner-stone to topmost height.

Verse 3

And when this temple, “made with hands,”
Upon its firm foundation stands,
Oh! may we all with loving heart,
In nobler building bear a part,

Verse 4

Where every polished stone shall be
A human soul won back to thee;
All resting upon Christ alone,--
The chief and precious Corner-Stone.