Should ever do her shame!
Her mother-care I'll ever share,
Her child I am alone,
Till He who gave me to her arms
Shall call me to His own.

My Church! my Church! my dear old Church!
I've heard the tale of blood,
Of hearts that loved her to the death--
The great, the wise, the good.
Our martyred sires defied the fires
For Christ the Crucified;
The once-delivered faith to keep
They burned, they bled, they died.

My Church! my Church! I love my Church,
For she exalts my Lord;
She speaks, she breathes, she teaches not
But from His written Word;
And if her voice bids me rejoice,
From all my sins released,
'Tis through th' atoning sacrifice,
And Jesus is the Priest.

My Church! my Church! I love my Church,
For she doth lead me on
To Zion's palace Beautiful,
Where Christ my Lord hath gone.
From all below she bids me go
To Him, the Life, the Way,
The truth to guide my erring feet
From darkness into day.

Then here, my Church! my dear old Church!
Thy child would add a vow
To that whose token once was signed
Upon his infant brow:
Assault who may, kiss and betray,
Dishonor and disown,
MY CHURCH SHALL YET BE DEAR TO ME,
MY FATHERS' AND MY OWN!

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Church, by G. H. Gerberding

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