In every soul an altar stands,
Thereon dwells all in the heart of man,
Oh, consuming fire lay waste the dross,
Upon this table purge us,
Though the sacrifice we fear, forsake us not Lord, draw us near,
For we never fail to find you here, in our reasonable service.
Now the least that we can do is the least that you require,
Living sacrifices on the sacrificial fire,
Cleanse these earthen vessels, Lord, of every false desire,
When we fail the do the least help us in our unbelief.
In every soul an altar stands,
Thereon dwells all in the heart of man,
Oh, consuming fire lay waste the dross,
Upon this table purge us,
Though the sacrifice we fear, forsake us not Lord, draw us near,
For we never fail to find you here, in our reasonable service.
And in the measure of our faith, let our minds keep on renewing,
Not conforming to this world until this world's undoing,
And by your tender mercies, Lord, your perfect will pursuing,
We become an offering made holy through our suffering.
In the servitude of love drifts a fragrant scent, well pleasing,
As the strength of grace compels us on to worship without ceasing,
To count as loss all we hold dear is Christ in us increasing,
And through the fire gold will remain,
To live is Christ to die is gain.
In every soul an altar stands,
Thereon dwells all in the heart of man,
Oh, consuming fire lay waste the dross,
And courage, don't desert us,
Though the sacrifice we fear, forsake us not Lord, draw us near,
For we never fail to find you here, in our reasonable service.
