Verse 1
There is an ancient River (Ps. 46:4, Ezek. 47:1-12, Rev. 22:1)
Whose streams descend in light
From never-failing fountains
Beyond all earthly sight;
It ran through all the ages
And, wheresoe’er it flowed
Up rose the Holy City (Rev. 21:2-4)
The Lord’s elect abode (Ps. 46:4, Ps. 87:1-3)
Verse 2
The River still is flowing (Ezek. 47:1-12, Rev. 22:1)
But now with fuller stream
And still the light is falling
But now with brighter beam
Of old the Song of Moses (Ex. 15:1, Rev. 15:3)
Soared as it swept along
But now the Name of Jesus
Is made its sweeter Song
Verse 3
Its radiance lights us onward
Its chanting waters cheer
Blest is the eye beholding (Matt. 13:16, Luke 10:23)
Blest is the hearing ear (Matt. 13:16, Luke 10:24)
For as the earth-clouds darken
The glory clearer grows
And gladder for life’s tumult
The stream of music flows
Verse 4
God’s River! The One Spirit (Eph. 4:4)
Grace of the mystic Seven (Rev. 1:4, Rev. 4:5, Rev. 5:6)
Drink, Holy Church, these waters (I Cor. 12:13, John 7:37)
Thine earnest here of Heaven (Rom. 8:23, II Cor. 1:22, II Cor. 5:5, Eph. 1:14)
So joy and peace and pleasure
Shall feed thy life within
So power without shall guard thee
Against the world of sin (I John 5:18)
Verse 5
O Beautiful, the River!
We wait upon thy shore
In bliss of expectation
Abiding evermore
Till at some holy even
We pass upon thy breast (John 13:23)
From foretaste unto fullness
From waiting into rest