Behold the temple of the Lord

Behold the temple of the Lord. Thomas Kelly* (1769-1855). First published in the Third Edition of Kelly’s Hymns on Various Passages of Scripture (1809). It was entitled ‘The Church a Spiritual Temple’, and has a particular resonance if it is remembered that Kelly was excluded from official church buildings. See stanzas 2 and 3: A building this, not made with hands;On firm foundations, lo, it stands,  For God himself hath laid them;The workmanship of God alone,The rich materials all his own:  ’Twas he himself that made them. He builds it for His glory’s sake,Its solid frame no force can shake,  Although the world despise it;And time, that other work destroys,  ’Gainst this in vain its power...