64. O Lord, With Heart and Soul We Praise Thee

1. O Lord, with heart and soul we praise Thee,
That Thou upon this earthly sphere
A covenant nation now dost raise Thee,
To magnify Thy name so dear!
From many men a congregation
Of saints, O Lord, Thou buildest Thee;
Thou wilt its Head and Savior be,
O Jesus, Bringer of Salvation.

2. Thou hast from every tongue and nation
Built up Thy holy church, O God,
Where men sing praise of Thy salvation
And where Thy Word is spread abroad;
Thou by Thy covenant love hast broken
The awful prison house of sin,
And to Thy fold dost bring them in
Who trust the Word Thy mouth has spoken.

3. Thy Church is founded in uprightness
Upon the everlasting Word;
Its light is from the Spirit’s brightness;
Its safety is an angel guard;
Love is its life and inspiration,
And faith its strength, whate’er befall,
That worketh and provideth all,
And hope its present consolation.

4. Its members stand in loving union,
And solely to their Savior cling;
Their bond is brotherly communion;
They stand as one in everything.
True meekness marks all their behavior,
Their quest for peace is undelayed;
In trials they are not dismayed,
But live devoted to their Savior.

5. They bear the cross received of Jesus
Regarding not its heaviness;
Beneath it pride and sloth all ceases;
It will not suffer loftiness.
Although at times it is oppressing
They look, upon their pilgrim way,
To Christ, their Savior and their Stay,
And deem it nothing but a blessing.

6. Their pathway joyfully pursuing,
They journey onward day by day,
The grace of Christ their strength renewing,
His saving Word their staff and stay.
Then flow apace, ye tears of sadness –
Sweet are ye, coming from above!
For from that paradise of love
Will solace flow, then – tears of gladness!