1 HARK! the Church proclaims her honor,
And her strength is only this:
God hath laid his choice upon her,
And the work she doth is His.

2 He His Church has firmly founded,
He will guard what He began;
We by sin and foes surrounded,
Build her bulwarks as we can.

3 Frail and fleeting are our powers,
Short our days, our foresight dim,
And we own the choice not ours,
We were chosen first by Him.

4 Onward, then! for nought despairing,
Calm we follow at His Word,
Thus through joy and sorrow bearing
Faithful witness to our Lord.

5 Though we here must strive in weakness,
Though in tears we often bend,
What His might began in meekness
Shall achieve a glorious end.