Scripture Verse

The worlds were framed by the word of God. Hebrews 11:3

Introduction

Words: Ma­ry O. Page, in Pray­ers and Hymns for the Church and the Home (Bos­ton: New Eng­land Uni­ver­sal­ist Pub­lish­ing House, 1865), num­ber 669, alt. De­di­ca­tion of a Church.

Music: Lu­ton George Bur­der, 1774 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Page (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
George Burder (1752–1832)

Lyrics

O God! ere Heav’n and earth were planned,
Adoring silence worshipped Thee;
Now vast the universe doth stand,
The temple of Thy majesty.

Its walls are wrought of sapphire bright;
Its countless spires are starry flame:
Suns on the boundless ether write
The sovereign beauty of Thy name.

An earthly temple, by Thy grace,
This day we dedicate to Thee;
Deign to make here Thy dwelling place
O Thou that fill’st immensity.

Fold us beneath Thy sheltering wings,
As here we worship at Thy shrine;
Ours be the peace Thy presence brings,
The glo­ry and the praise be Thine.