1 O'er the trackless ocean guided
By Thy hand our fathers came;
They, O Lord, in Thee confided,
Loved Thy day, revered Thy name;
Nor would we, their faith despising,
False to their devotion be,
But, on wings of prayer arising,
Lift our contrite hearts to Thee.
2 In the new land, wild and lonely,
Rude the homes which they upraised,
There they sought unto Thee only,
There Thy love and mercy praised;
In our fairer habitations,
May their zeal in us increase,
While Thy gracious consolations
Prove our everlasting peace.
3 Where, in wilderness extending,
Every creature had his lair,
Now behold us humbly bending
In this holy place of prayer;
Let the world transformed around us
Witness be of change within
Joy divine that God hath found us,
Healed the deadly wounds of sin.
4 Destined for their fathers' places,
Age on age until the end,
Keep, O keep, our children's faces
Turned to Thee, our changeless Friend;
And may all who boon of heaven
Now or evermore shall crave,
Know on earth Thy blessing given,
Glory find beyond the grave.
Source: Methodist Hymn and Tune Book: official hymn book of the Methodist Church #655