1 The countless stars of heaven, the sands beside the sea: to Abraham God promised 'So shall your children be'. The patriarch believed it, for God could do no less; that act of faith was counted as perfect righteousness. 2 So they became his people and he became their God; his promise gave direction, his presence lit their road. Committed to his covenant, marked by his chosen sign, to cross unknown horizons they walked the path divine. 3 Lord Jesus, we have heard you affirming Abram's faith, and found the life eternal that follows from your death: so all who humbly enter the kingdom of your heaven are children of the promise, baptized, set right, forgiven. 4 O let the world believe it! The promise is for all; for us and for our children the Lord our God will call: and those marked out as holy, saved by one Man alone, are one in Christ for ever, adopted as his own. 5 Praise God our first Beginning; praise Christ, the firstborn Son; praise Father, Saviour, Spirit, all-glorious Three-in-One creating from all nations one new, beloved race: the people of the covenant to serve the God of grace.