Precious people

A precious people, dearly loved,
Chosen by God for holiness;
May Christ’s compassion clothe our hearts
And fill our lives with gentleness.
Ah, Christ, who splendour cast aside,
Puncture our pompous vanity!
Give us to face our daily tasks
With patience and humility.

How hard we find it to forgive!
We nurse our wounds in secret store.
We cling to grievances long past
And cultivate our bitter core;
Yet Jesus died to rescue us
While we were drowning in our woes.
Forgiven, how can we withhold
A like forgiveness for our foes.

The world has known no greater love
Than that my saviour gives to me,
That other virtue supersedes
And lasts throughout eternity.
The Golden chain that binds his church
And captures sinners perfectly
That links our lives in gratitude
And holds our hearts in harmony,