The Rock and the Sand

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On what are you building, my brother?

Author: Henry R. Trickett
Tune: [On what are you building, my brother]
Published in 22 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 On what are you building, my brother,
Your hopes of an eternal home?
Is it loose, shifting sand, or the firm, solid rock,
You are trusting for ages to come?

Refrain:
Hearing and doing, we build on the rock;
Hearing alone, we build on the sand;
Both will be tried by the storm and the flood;
Only the rock the trial will stand.

2 On one or the other, my brother,
You're building your hopes day by day;
You are risking your soul on the works that you do;
Will the dark waters sweep you away? [Refrain]

3 Your Savior has warned you, my brother,
I pray you give heed to his voice;
There is life on the rock, but there's death on the sand;
O my brother, pray tell me your choice. [Refrain]

4 No matter how careful, my brother,
The sand for your house you prepare,
'Twill be all swept away when the floods shall descend,
Leaving nothing but death and despair. [Refrain]

Source: The Christian Sunday School Hymnal: a compilation of choice hymns and tunes for Sunday schools #40

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Author: Henry R. Trickett

Henry Robert Tricket (sometimes called Harry Robert Tricket), born December 1839, Nottinghamshire, England; died April 1909, Keokuk, Iowa. A hymn writer, minister, and pastor/preacher/teacher from the American Restoration Movement. He spent the bulk of his time in ministry serving churches in the Disciples of Christ, one of the three branches of a movement founded by Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell, Barton W. Stone, and Walter Scott. The other branches include Churches of Christ and Independent Christian Churches. Most of his compositions, largely as a lyric and text writer, are found in the mid-20th century hymnals of Churches of Christ. His partnership in composing with Fred Fillmore and others through the Fillmore Brothers Publishing… Go to person page >

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First Line:	On what are you building, my brother?
Title:	The Rock and the Sand
Author:	Henry R. Trickett
Language:	English
Refrain First Line:	Hearing and doing, we build on the rock
Copyright:	Public Domain