How lovely and how loved, how full of grace

How lovely and how loved, how full of grace,
The Lord the God of Hosts, His dwelling-place!
How elect your
Architecture!
How serene your walls remain:
Never moved by,
Rather proved by
Wind, and storm, and surge, and rain!

O how glorious those foundations
Which in ancient generations
Types and shadows half display!
From the side of Adam sleeping
Eve proceeded, figure keeping
Of a hand to last for aye.

Framed of Wood, the Ark effected
Noah's salvation, while directed
Through the Deluge and upheld:
Called the promise to inherit
Sarah laughs with joy of spirit
O'er the infant of her eld.

From her pitcher Bethuel's daughter
Giveth Eliezer water,
And the camels slake their thirst:
For her Bridegroom she prepareth,
While the rings and chains she weareth
That Himself had sent her first.

Letter held by, spirit scanted,
Saw the Synagogue supplanted,
Wandering wide, by Jacob's hand:
Leah's tender vision fleeth
Much that clear-eyed Rachel seeth
Wedded thence in equal band.

By the wayside as she fareth
Tamar twins to Judah beareth
After many a widowed day:
Here the Royal Maid revealing
What the rush-ark was concealing,
Beareth Moses safe away.

Here the Lamb is immolated
Whereby Israel shall be sated,
Sprinkled with the atoning blood:
Here they pass the Red Sea surges,
While the rising billow urges
Egypt's host beneath the flood.

Here the urn of manna standeth,
Here the Tables God commandeth
In the Ark of Covenant rest.
Here the ornaments of beauty,
Here the robes of priestly duty,
Chief of all the fair long vest.

Here his wife Urias loses,—
Bathsheba, whom David chooses,
To a queen's estate to bring:
Than the royal maidens fairer,
She, of gold-wrought raiment wearer,
'Shall be brought unto the King.'

Hither Sheba's queen proceedeth
As to Solomon she speedeth,
Seeking Wisdom at his feet:
Black, but comely, she ascendeth,
As when myrrh with incense blendeth
In a vapour dark but sweet.

She whose glory
Ancient story
Shadowed faintly,
Bright and saintly
Opens here the Day of Grace.
To our dearest
Lie we nearest,
Besting by Him,
Singing nigh Him,
For the Nuptial comes apace:

The feast at whose beginning blend
The louder notes that trumpets send,
While gentler psalteries hail the end.
Ten thousand thousand choirs on high
The Bridegroom in one melody
Exalting, sing eternally
Alleluia: Amen.