How Fair the Church of Christ Shall Stand

Representative Text

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 a fam'ly 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 ev'ry 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 cannot be concealed,
Their evil ways shall be revealed,
He ev'ry 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 heav'n above I see,
Where holy, holy, holy Lord,
We sing to Thee with one accord.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #418

Author: Thomas Hansen Kingo

(no biographical information available about Thomas Hansen Kingo.) Go to person page >

Translator: Ole T. Arneson

Ole T. Arneson was born in Highland township, Winnesheik county, Iowa, May 4, 1853, to Tollef Arneson and Margrete Olson (Rudringen) Sanden, farmers. Mr. Arneson attended the common school until he was confirmed in the Lutheran church. He then took the elementary course at the state normal school, Winona, Minn., from where he graduated Dec. 31, 1871. He now commenced teaching school in his home district and later continued teaching in various places. For three years he was principal of the graded school at Spring Grove, Minn. In the spring of 1879 he moved to North Dakota and took up a homestead near Hatton, Traill county. Here he taught school part of the time while holding the claim, which he proved up in 1884 and sold in 1886, wh… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: How fair the Church of Christ shall stand
Title: How Fair the Church of Christ Shall Stand
Danish Title: Hvor delig skal Guds Kirke staa
Author: Thomas Hansen Kingo
Translator: Ole T. Arneson
Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

VATER UNSER

Martin Luther's versification of the Lord's Prayer was set to this tune in Valentin Schumann's hymnal, Geistliche Lieder (1539); the tune, whose composer remains unknown, had some earlier use. The tune name derives from Luther's German incipit: “Vater unser im Himmelreich….” Because VATER UNSE…

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MELITA (Dykes)

The original chant melody associated with this text [i.e., "Eternal Father, strong to save"] is found in most hymnals of denominations where chant has played a role, including the Lutheran tradition, which has produced much organ music on this well-known chant. The setting here is by John B. Dykes (…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 2 of 2)

Ambassador Hymnal #297

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #418

Include 2 pre-1979 instances
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