O Word of God Incarnate,
O
Wisdom from on high,
O
Truth unchanged, unchanging,
O
Light of our dark sky:
We
praise Thee for the radiance
That
from the hallowed page,
A
lantern to our footsteps,
Shines
on from age to age.
2
The
church from her dear Master
Received
the gift divine,
And
still that light she lifteth
O'er
all the earth to shine.
It
is the golden casket
Where
gems of truth are stored;
It
is the heaven-drawn picture
Of
Christ, the living Word.
3
It
floateth like a banner
Before
God's host unfurled;
It
shineth like a beacon
Above
the darkling world.
It
is the chart and compass
That
o'er life's surging sea,
'Mid
mists and rocks and quicksands,
Still
guides, O Christ, to Thee.
4
O
make Thy church, dear Savior,
A
lamp of purest gold,
To
bear before the nations
Thy
true light as of old.
O
teach Thy wandering pilgrims
By
this their path to trace,
Till,
clouds and darkness ended,
They
see Thee face to face.