I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord

I love Thy king­dom

Lord

The house of Thine ab­ode

The church our blessed Re­deem­er saved

With His own pre­cious blood.

I love Thy church

O God.

Her walls be­fore Thee stand

Dear as the ap­ple of Thine eye

And writ­ten on Thy hand.

If e’er to bless Thy sons

My voice or hands de­ny

These hands let use­ful skills for­sake

This voice in si­lence die.

Should I with scoff­ers join

Her al­tars to abuse?

No! Bet­ter far my tongue were dumb

My hand its skill should lose.

For her my tears shall fall

For her my pray­ers as­cend

To her my cares and toils be giv’n

Till toils and cares shall end.

Beyond my high­est joy

I prize her heav’n­ly ways

Her sweet com­mun­ion

so­lemn vows

Her hymns of love and praise.

Jesus

Thou friend di­vine

Our Sav­ior and our king

Thy hand from ev­ery snare and foe

Shall great de­li­ver­ance bring.

Sure as Thy truth shall last

To Zion shall be giv’n

The bright­est glo­ries earth can yield

And bright­er bliss of Heav’n.