The Refuge, River, and Rock of the Church

I

He who on earth as man was known,
  And bore our sins and pains,
Now, seated on the eternal throne,
  The God of glory reigns.

II

His hands the wheels of nature guide
  With an unerring skill;
And countless worlds extended wide
  Obey his sovereign will.

III

While harps unnumber’d sound his praise
  In yonder world above,
His saints on earth admire his ways,
  And glory in his love.

IV

His righteousness to faith reveal’d,
  Wrought out for guilty worms,
Affords a hiding-place and shield
  From enemies and storms.

V

This land, through which his pilgrims go,
  Is desolate and dry;
But streams of grace from him o’erflow,
  Their thirst to satisfy.

VI

When troubles, like a burning sun,
  Beat heavy on their head,
To this almighty Rock they run,
  And find a pleasing shade.

VII

How glorious he! how happy they
  In such a glorious Friend!
Whose love secures them all the way,
  And crowns them at the end.