Thy blueprint, Lord, I treasure dear (Hymn 838)

Verse 1: Thy blueprint, Lord, I treasure dear, It shows Thy tabernacle real, It tells how Thou wouldst have it built, How Thou Thy glory wouldst reveal. Verse 2: The ark's the center of the tent, The tent is but its resting-place: In it the ten commandments are, And in the tent it ever stays. Verse 3: The ark the God-man, Christ, displays— God mixed with man, as gold, wood meet; The law is God's expression full, Which dwells in Christ the Son complete. Verse 4: Thus Christ's the center of the Church, Which is to Him a resting-place; In Christ the Father ever dwells, And in the Church, Christ's dwelling-place. Verse 5: The tent's the increase of the ark, Both are of wood with gold o'erlaid; The Church the increase is of Christ, God blent with man here too displayed. Verse 6: The boards when joined support the tent On silver sockets standing sure; Gold overlaid, with golden rings And interlocking bars, secure. Verse 7: The Church is thus the gathered saints, On Christ's redemption standing sure; In life divine, by Spirit bound, Together built and framed secure. Verse 8: The tent's four-layered cover shows The Christ of God in every phase; God's glory thus is signified, Covering His holy dwelling-place. Verse 9: Covered by such a glorious Christ, All saints together knit may be; Enjoying all He is for them, In Him they're builded gloriously. Verse 10: The law is placed within the ark, The ark within the tent doth rest; So God in Christ within the Church His wondrous glory manifests.