Come Sing, Ye Choirs Exultant

Come sing, ye choirs exultant,

Those messengers of God,

Through whom the living Gospels

Came sounding all abroad!

Whose voice proclaimed salvation

That poured upon the night,

And drove away the shadows,

And filled the world with light.

He chose them, our Good Shepherd,

And, tending evermore,

His flock through earth's four quarters,

In wisdom made them four;

True Lawgiver, He bade them

Their healing message speed-

One charter for all nations,

One glorious title deed!

In one harmonious witness

The chosen four combine

While each his own commission

Fulfills in every line;

As, in the prophet's vision,

From out the amber flame

In form of visage diverse

Four living creatures came.

Lo, these the wingèd chariots,

That bring Emmanuel nigh,

The golden staves, uplifting

God's very ark on high;

And these the fourfold river

Of paradise above,

Whence flow for all the nations

New mysteries of love.

Foursquare on this foundation

The Church of Christ remains,

A house to stand unshaken

By floods or winds or rains.

O glorious happy portion

In this safe home to be,

By God, true man, united

With God eternally.