Christian Worship Our Father-ever Living!
Our Father-ever living!
Once more thy children come,
In joy and true thanksgiving,
To this their gospel home.
United-from dissension
Kept by thy goodness free-
Again in glad Convention
Our vows we pay to thee.
The Past! Its ways are beaming
With thy sure mercies, Lord-
Thy truth and grace redeeming,
Sent o’er the earth abroad,
The hoary shrines of error
Have cast aside; and free
From darkness, doubt, and terror
Its children come to thee.
The Present! Loudly sounding,
Its cheering tones are heard;
Be our full hearts abounding
In its strong Hope and Word!
Be strength and wisdom, Father!
Bestowing what we need,
Truth’s harvest-sheaves to gather-
Christ’s kingdom here to speed.
The Future! Indications
Of mightier works are there:-
Truth’s promised revelations;
Thine arm of power made bare;
From sin’s dread reign exemption:
Man’s life in Christ, divine;
The erring world’s redemption;
The glory, Father, thine!