2 Sweet is the day of sacred rest;
No mortal cares shall seize my breast;
O may my heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp of solemn sound.

3 My heart shall triumph in my Lord,

And bless his works, and bless his word;
Thy works of grace, how bright they shine!
How deep thy counsels, how divine!

4 Then shall I see, and hear, and know
All I desired or wished below;
And every power find sweet employ
In that eternal world of joy.

S. M.

51.

The Delights of the Sabbath.

SPIRIT OF THE PSALMS.

1 SWEET is the task, O Lord,
Thy glorious acts to sing,

To praise thy name, and hear thy word,
And grateful offerings bring;

2 Sweet, at the dawning hour,

3

Thy boundless love to tell;

And when the night-wind shuts the flower, Still on the theme to dwell;

Sweet, on this day of rest,

To join in heart and voice

With those who love and serve thee best,

And in thy name rejoice.

To songs of praise and joy
Be every Sabbath given,

That such may be our blest employ
Eternally in heaven.

L. M.

52.

DODDRIDGE varied.

The eternal Sabbath.

1 LORD of the Sabbath! hear our vows,
On this thy day, in this thy house;
And own, as grateful sacrifice,
The songs which in thy temple rise.

2 Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love;
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our longing souls aspire,
With cheerful hope and strong desire.
3 No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin, nor death, shall reach the place;
No groans shall mingle with the songs
Which dwell upon immortal tongues.

4 No rude alarms of raging foes,
No cares to break the long repose;
No midnight shade, no clouded sun,
But sacred, high, eternal noon.

5 O long-expected day, begin;

Dawn on these realms of woe and sin;
Fain would we leave this weary road,
And sleep in death, to rest with God.

C. M.

53.

MRS. BARBAULD.

The Sabbath of the Soul.

1 SLEEP, sleep to-day, tormenting cares,
Of earth and folly born!

Ye shall not dim the light that streams
From this celestial morn.

2 To-morrow will be time enough
To feel your harsh control;
Ye shall not violate this day,
The Sabbath of my soul.

3 Sleep, sleep for ever, guilty thoughts!
Let fires of vengeance die;
And, purged from sin, may I behold
A God of purity!

L. M.

54.

The Christian Sabbath.

STENNETT.

1 ANOTHER Six days' work is done,
Another Sabbath is begun ;

Return, my soul, enjoy thy rest,
Improve the day that God has blessed.

2 O that our thoughts and thanks may rise As grateful incense to the skies,

And draw from heaven that sweet repose
Which none but he who feels it knows.

3 This heavenly calm within the breast
Is the dear pledge of glorious rest,
Which for the church of God remains,
The end of cares, the end of pains.

4 With joy, great God! thy works we view,
In various scenes, both old and new;
With praise we think on mercies past,
With hope we future mercies taste.

5 In holy duties let the day,

In holy pleasures, pass away;

How sweet this Sabbath thus to spend,
In hope of that which ne'er shall end!

H. M.

55.

HAYWARD.

Sabbath Morning.

I WELCOME, delightful morn!
Sweet day of sacred rest,
I hail thy kind return;

Lord, make these moments blest;
From the low train of mortal toys,
I soar to reach immortal joys.

2 Now may the King descend,
And fill his throne of grace;
Thy sceptre, Lord, extend,

While saints address thy face;
Let sinners feel thy quickening word,
And learn to know and fear the Lord.

3 Descend, celestial Dove,

With all thy quickening powers;
Disclose a Saviour's love,

And bless these sacred hours:
Then shall my soul new life obtain,
Nor Sabbaths be enjoyed in vain.

L. M.

56.

MRS. BARBAULD.

The Sacrifice of the Heart.

1 WHEN, as returns this solemn day,
Man comes to meet his Maker, God,
What rites, what honors, shall he pay?
How spread his Sovereign's praise abroad?

2 From marble domes and gilded spires
Shall curling clouds of incense rise?
And gems, and gold, and garlands deck
The costly pomp of sacrifice?

3 Vain, sinful man ! creation's Lord
Thy golden offerings well may spare;
But give thy heart, and thou shalt find
Here dwells a God who heareth prayer.

1

SEE what a living stone

The builders did refuse!

Yet God hath built his church thereon
In spite of envious Jews.

2 The work, O Lord, is thine,
And wondrous in our eyes;
This day declares it all divine;
This day did Jesus rise.

3 This is the glorious day

4

That our Redeemer made;

Let us rejoice, and sing, and pray;
Let all the church be glad.

Hosanna to the King

Of David's royal blood!

Bless him, ye saints; he comes to bring
Salvation from your God.

5 We bless thine holy word,

Which all this grace displays,
And offer on thine altar, Lord,
Our sacrifice of praise.