O MEAN may seem this house of clay, Yet ’twas the Lord’s abode; Our feet may mourn this thorny way, Yet here Emmanuel trod.
Our very frailty brings us near Unto the Lord of Heaven; To every grief, to every tear, Such glory strange is given.
But not this robe of flesh alone Shall link us, Lord, to Thee; Not only in the tear and groan Shall the dear kinship be.
Our will shall seek Thy life divine, Thine image we shall bear; With Thine own glory we shall shine, In Thine own bliss shall share.
O mighty grace, our life to live To make our earth divine! O mighty grace, Thy Heaven to give, And lift our life to Thine!
Thomas Hornblower Gill, 1819-1906