Hymns for Today's Church (2nd ed.) ‎#494a

494a. Glorious things of you are spoken

1 Glorious things of you are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken
formed you for his own abode:
on the rock of ages founded,
what can shake your sure repose?
with salvation's walls surrounded
you may smile at all your foes.

2 See, the streams of living waters
springing from eternal love!
well supply your sons and daughters
and all fear of want remove:
who can faint while such a river
ever flows their thirst to assuage?
grace, which like the Lord the giver
never fails from age to age.

3 Round each habitation hovering,
see the cloud and fire appear
for a glory and a covering
showing that the Lord is near:
thus they march, the pillar leading,
light by night and shade by day;
daily on the manna feeding
which he gives them when they pray.

4 Saviour, since of Zion's city
I through grace a member am,
let the world deride or pity,
I will glory in your name:
fading are the world's best pleasures,
all its boasted pomp and show;
solid joys and lasting treasures
none but Zion's children know.

Text Information

• First Line: Glorious things of you are spoken
• Author: J. Newton (1725-1807)
• Meter: 8 7 8 7 D
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1987
• Scripture:
  Psalm 87:3
• Topic: Christmas 2: The Holy Family; Epiphany 4, Revelation: The New Temple; God's Church: Unity and Growth; Last Sunday after Pentecost: Citizens of Heaven; Pentecost 2: The Church's Unity and Fellowship

Tune Information

• Name: AUSTRIA
• Adapter: F. J. Haydn (1732-1809)
• Composer (descant): T. H. Ingham (1878-1948)
• Meter: 8 7 8 7 D
• Incipit: 12324 32716
• Key: E♭ Major
• Source: Croatian folk tune
• Copyright: desc. © Oxford University Press
• Notes: Alternative tune: ABBOT'S LEIGH (494b)