579. Your hand, O God, has guided

Author: Edward H Plumptre 1821-91

Your hand, O God, has guided
your flock, from age to age;
your faithfulness is written
on history’s every page.
They knew your perfect goodness,
whose deeds we now record;
and both to this bear witness:
one church, one faith, one Lord.

2. Your heralds brought the gospel
to greatest as to least;
they summoned us to hasten
and share the great King’s feast.
And this was all their teaching
in every deed and word;
to all alike proclaiming:
one church, one faith, one Lord.

3. Through many days of darkness,
through many scenes of strife,
the faithful few fought bravely
to guard the nation’s life.
Their gospel of redemption-
sin pardoned, man restored-
was all in this enfolded:
one church, one faith, one Lord.

4. And we, shall we be faithless?
Shall hearts fail, hands hang down?
Shall we evade the conflict
and throw away the crown?
Not so! in God’s deep counsels
some better thing is stored;
we will maintain, unflinching,
one church, one faith, one Lord.

5. Your mercy will not fail us
nor leave your work undone;
with your right hand to help us,
the victory shall be won.
And then by earth and heaven
your name shall be adored;
and this shall be their anthem:
one church, one faith, one Lord.