The people called Christians have many things to tell
About the land of Canaan where saints and angels dwell;
But here a dismal ocean enclosing them around,
With its tides still divides them from Canaan’s happy ground.
Many have been impatient to work their passage through,
And with united wisdom have tried what they could do;
But vessels built by human skill have never sailed far,
Till we found them aground on some dreadful, sandy bar.
The everlasting gospel hath launch’d the deep at last;