Psalm 48 Poetry by Isaac Watts

The Beauty of the Church; or, Gospel Worship and Order

 Far as thy name is known,
The world declares thy praise;
Thy saints, O Lord, before thy throne,
Their songs of honour raise.

With joy thy people stand
On Zion’s chosen hill,
Proclaim the wonders of thy hand,
And counsels of thy will.

Let strangers walk around
The city where we dwell,
Compass and view thy holy ground,
And mark the building well.

The orders of thy house,
The worship of thy court,
The cheerful songs, the solemn vows,
And make a fair report.

How decent and how wise!
How glorious to behold!
Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes,
And rites adorn’d with gold.

The God we worship now
Will guide us ’till we die;
Will be our God while here below,
And ours above the sky.