406 How fair the Church of Christ shall stand,

1 How fair the Church of Christ shall stand, A beacon-light in all the land, When love and faith all hearts inspire, And all unite in one desire To be as brothers, and agree To live in peace and unity. 2 'Tis all in vain that you profess The doctrines of the Church, unless You live according to your creed, And show your faith by word and deed. Observe the rule: To others do As you would have them do to you. 3 Resentment, hate, and cruel jest, Must not be harbored in the breast Where love and charity should dwell; Then, think and speak of others well, Refrain from all that causes strife And mars a truly Christian life. 4 So let your tongue, your heart, and mind, Agree to banish every kind Of malice, falsehood, and disguise, And here on earth a paradise Of peace and harmony maintain, Where concord and good-will shall reign. 5 For God observes our thoughts and deeds, The secrets of our heart He reads; The wicked can not be concealed, Their evil ways shall be revealed, He every true believer knows, And love and grace on him bestows. 6 My soul, be therefore of good cheer, Though sinners threaten, scoff and sneer, Serenely on your way proceed, Nor worldly strife and clamor heed, For Jesus' sake the cross you bear, And soon with Him the crown shall wear. 7 O gracious God, wilt Thou my heart So fashion in each secret part, That Thou be sanctified in me, Till Thee in heaven above I see, Where holy, holy, holy, Lord, We sing to Thee with sweet accord.