FATHER and God! to Thee
Our songs of praise ascend;
E’er long their eternal harmonies
The very skies shall rend;
But now ‘tis minor tones we raise,
Thy children lisping forth Thy praise.
Father! we worship Thee,
Our very souls we bow;
Earth is forgotten while we gaze
Within the holiest now;
And in the radiance of this place,
With rapture look upon Thy face.
All thought of sin is gone,
It cannot enter here
Redemption’s work is done,
It dissipates our fear.
Now in the worth of Christ we stand,
Offering the first-fruits of the land.
His blood has washed us white,
His beauty clothes us now;
And fit for Thine unsullied light
We stand before Thee now;
Blest in the liberty thus given,
To praise within an opened heaven.
Praise for the gift of Christ,
Thy well-beloved Son!
Praise for the Spirit who reveals
The Gift and Giver One!
All joy we have, or hope to see,
Is centered, blessed God, in Thee.