59 IV.
The Strength of the Church.
8,7,8,7
Diess ist der Gemeinde Stärke
S. Preiswerk.
Hark, the Church proclaims her honour And her strength is only this: God hath laid His choice upon her, And the work she doth is His. | He His Church hath firmly founded, He will guard what He began; We, by sin and foes surrounded, Build her bulwarks as we can. | 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. | Onward then! for nought despairing, Calm we follow at His word, Thus through joy and sorrow bearing Faithful witness to our Lord. | Though we here must strive with weakness, Though in tears we often bend, What His might began in meekness Shall achieve a glorious end. | |