And, while we hear, and sing, and pray,
With heavenly joy we soar away.

4 Oh! dearest hours of all I know-
Oh! sweetest joys of all below:
Here would I choose my fixed abode,
And dwell forever near my God.

458

S. M.

HOW charming is the place
Where my Redeemer God
Unvails the glories of his face,
And sheds his love abroad!

2 Here, on the mercy-seat,
With radiant glory crowned,
Our joyful eyes behold him sit,
And smile on all around.

Hudson. Shirland.

3 To him their prayers and cries
Each contrite soul presents:

And while he hears their humble sighs,
He grants them all their wants.

4 Give me, O Lord, a place
Within thy blest abode;

Among the children of thy grace,
The servants of my God.

459

mf

P

The Presence of God sought in his House.
COME, O thou King of all thy saints,
Our humble tribute own,

While with our praises and complaints,
We bow before thy throne.

2 How should our songs, like those above,
With warm devotion rise!

How should our souls, on wings of love,
Mount upward to the skies!

3 But ah! the song, how faint it flows!
How languid our desire!

How cold the sacred passion glows,
Till thou the heart inspire!

4 Dear Saviour, let thy glory shine,
And fill thy dwellings here;

nf Till life, and love, and joy divine,
A heaven on earth appear.

5 Then shall our hearts, enraptured, say-
Come, great Redeemer-come;
And bring the bright-the glorious day,
That calls thy children home.

460

C. M.

Litchfield. Dundee.

Aff GREAT Shepherd of thy people, hear!
Thy presence now display:

We kneel within thy house of prayer,
Oh! give us hearts to pray.

2 The clouds, which vail thee from our sight,
In pity, Lord, remove;

Dispose our minds to hear aright

The message of thy love.

3 Help us, with holy fear and joy,
To kneel before thy face;

Oh make us, creatures of thy power,
The children of thy grace.

461

78. 61.

Sabbath. Rutland.

SAFELY through another week,
God has brought us on our way;
Let us now a blessing seek,
Waiting in his courts to-day :
Day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eternal rest.

2 While we seek supplies of grace,
Through the dear Redeemer's name;
Show thy reconciling face-

Take away our sin and shame;
From our worldly cares set free,
May we rest this day in thee.

3 Here we come thy name to praise ;
Let us feel thy presence near:
May thy glory meet our eyes,
While we in thy house appear:
Here afford us, Lord, a taste
Of our everlasting feast.

4 May the gospel's joyful sound
Conquer sinners-comfort saints;
Make the fruits of grace abound,
Bring relief from all complaints:
Thus let all our Sabbaths prove,
Till we join the church above.

462

C. M.

Litchfield. Dundee.

AGAIN our earthly cares we leave,
And to thy courts repair;

mf Again with joyful feet we come,
To meet our Saviour here.

> 2 Within these walls let holy peace,
And love, and concord dwell:

Here give the troubled conscience ease,
The wounded spirit heal.

mp 3 The feeling heart-the melting eye,
The humble mind bestow;

And shine upon us from on high,
To make our graces grow.

4 May we in faith receive thy word,
In faith present our prayers;
And in the presence of our Lord
Unbosom all our cares.

5 Show us some token of thy love,
Our fainting hope to raise;

mf And pour thy blessing from above,
That we may render praise.

463

WITHIN thy house, O Lord, our God,
In glory now appear;

Make this a place of thine abode,

And shed thy blessings here.

2 When we thine awful seat surround,
Thy Spirit, Lord, impart;

And let thy gospel's joyful sound
With power reach every heart.

3 Here let the blind their sight obtain;
Here give the mourners rest:
Let Jesus here triumphant reign,
Enthroned in every breast.

<4 Here let the voice of sacred joy
And humble prayer arise,

Till higher strains our tongues employ,
In realms beyond the skies.

7s.

Edy field.

464 Prayer for a Blessing on public Worship.

TO thy temple we repair-
Lord, we love to worship there;

f

There within the vail we meet
Thee upon the mercy-seat.

2 While thy glorious name is sung,
Tune our lips-unloose our tongue;
Then our joyful souls shall bless
Thee, the Lord our Righteousness.
3 While to thee our prayers ascend,
Let thine ear in love attend;
Aff Hear us when thy Spirit pleads-
Hear-for Jesus intercedes.

4 While thy word is heard with awe,
While we tremble at thy law,
Let thy gospel's wondrous love
Every doubt and fear remove.

mf 5 From thy house when we return,
Let our hearts within us burn;
That at evening, we may say

'We have walked with God to-day.'

IN thy great name, O Lord, we come,
To worship at thy feet;

Oh pour thy Holy Spirit down

On all that now shall meet.

2 We come to hear Jehovah speak,
To hear the Saviour's voice:
Thy face and favor, Lord, we seek;
Now make our hearts rejoice.

3 Teach us to pray, and praise, and hear,
And understand thy word;

To feel thy blissful presence near,
And trust our living Lord.

Aff LORD, we come before thee now;
At thy feet we humbly bow;
Oh do not our suit disdain!
Shall we seek thee, Lord, in vain?
2 Lord, on thee our souls depend;
In compassion now descend;
Fill our hearts with thy rich grace;
mf Tune our lips to sing thy praise.
3 In thine own appointed way,
Now we seek thee-here we stay;

Mear.

Benson.

Lord, we know not how to go,
Till a blessing thou bestow.

4 Send some message from thy word,
That may joy and peace afford;
Let thy Spirit now impart

mf Full salvation to each heart.

5 Comfort those who weep and mourn,
Let the time of joy return;

Those who are cast down-lift up, mf Make them strong in faith and hope.

6 Grant that all may seek and find Thee a God supremely kind: Heal the sick-the captive free ; mf Let us all rejoice in thee.

467

C. M.

Spencer. Eastport.

The Sacrifice of the Heart.

WHEN, as returns this solemn day,
Man comes to meet his God,

What rites, what honors shall he pay?
How spread his praise abroad?

2 From marble domes and gilded spires
Shall clouds of incense rise?

And gems, and gold, and garlands deck
The costly sacrifice?

3 Vain, sinful man!-creation's Lord
Thy offerings well may spare ;

But give thy heart-and thou shalt find,
Thy God will hear thy prayer.

468

C. M.
Before Sermon.

Stamford. Medfield.

ALMIGHTY God!-eternal Lord!
Thy gracious power make known:
Touch, by the virtue of thy word,

And melt the heart of stone.

2 Speak with the voice that wakes the dead,
And bid the sleeper rise;

Oh let his guilty conscience dread
The death that never dies.

3 Let us receive the word we hear,
Each in an honest heart;

Lay up the precious treasure there,
never with it part.

And