We Rear Not a Temple

We rear not a tem­ple

Like Ju­dah’s of old

Whose por­tals were mar­ble

Whose vault­ings were gold;

No in­cense is light­ed

No vic­tims are slain

No mon­arch kneels pray­ing

To hal­low the fane.

More sim­ple and low­ly

The walls that we raise

And hum­bler the pomp of

Procession and praise

Where the heart is the al­tar

Whence in­cense shall roll

And Mes­si­ah the King

Who shall pray for the soul.

O Fa­ther

come in!

But not in the cloud

Which filled the bright courts where

Thy chos­en ones bowed;

But come in that Spir­it

Of glo­ry and grace

Which beams on the soul

And il­lum­ines the race.

O come in the pow­er of

Thy life giv­ing Word

And re­veal to each heart

Its Re­deem­er and Lord;

Till faith bring the peace

To the pe­ni­tent giv’n

And love fill the air with

The frag­rance of Heav’n.

The pomp of Mo­ri­ah

Has long passed away

And soon shall our frail­er

Erection de­cay;

But the souls that are build­ed

In wor­ship and love

Shall be tem­ples of God

Everlasting ab­ove.