3 For the Lord our God shall come,
And shall take His harvest home;
From His field shall in that day
All offences purge away;
Give His angels charge at last
In the fire the tares to cast;
But the fruitful ears to store
In His garner evermore.
4 Then, thou Church triumphant, come,
Raise the song of harvest-home!
All are safely gathered in,
Free from sorrow, free from sin;
There for ever purified,
In God's garner to abide :
Come, ten thousand angels, come,
Raise the glorious harvest-home!
DEAN ALFORD. 1844.
1243 They joy before Thee according to the joy in
harvest.-Isa. 9. 3.
THE God of harvest praise;
In loud thanksgivings raise
Hand, heart, and voice!
The valleys laugh and sing,
Forests and mountains ring,
The plains their tribute bring,
The streams rejoice!
2 Yes, bless His holy name,
And joyous thanks proclaim,
Through all the earth!
To glory in your lot
Is comely; but be not
God's benefits forgot,
Amid your mirth.
3 The God of harvest praise;
Hands, hearts, and voices raise,
With sweet accord.
From fields to garner throng,
Bearing your sheaves along,
And in your harvest song,
Bless ye the Lord.
JAMES MONTGOMERY. 1853.
1244 Arise, O Lord, into Thy rest; Thou, and the
ark of Thy strength.-Ps. 132. 8.
IGHT up this house with glory, Lord;
Enter, and claim Thine own;
Receive the homage of our souls,
Erect Thy temple-throne.
2 We rear no altar-Thou hast died;
We deck no priestly shrine;
What need have we of creature aid?
The power to save is Thine.
3 We ask no bright shekinah-cloud,
To glorify the place;
Give, Lord, the substance of that sign—
A plenitude of grace.
4 No rushing mighty wind we ask;
No tongues of flame desire;
Grant us the Spirit's quickening light,
His purifying fire.
5 Light up this house with glory, Lord—
The glory of that love
Which forms and saves a church below,
And makes a heaven above.
1245 Peace be within thy walls.—Ps. 122. 7.
ORD of hosts, to Thee we raise
Here a house of prayer and praise :
Thou Thy people's hearts prepare
Here to meet for praise and prayer.
2 Let Thy children here be fed
With Thy word, the heavenly bread:
Here, with richest mercy blest,
May the
weary soul find rest;
3 Here to Thee a temple stand,
While the sea shall gird the land ;
Here reveal Thy mercy sure,
While the sun and moon endure.
4 Hallelujah!-earth and sky
To the joyful sound reply:
Hallelujah!—hence ascend
Prayer and praise till time shall end.
That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day.-1 Kings 8. 29..
THOU, whose hand has brought us
Unto this joyful day,
Accept our glad thanksgiving
And listen as we pray.:
And may our preparation
For this day's service be
With one accord to offer
Ourselves, O Lord, to Thee.
2 For this new house we praise Thee,-
Reared by Thine own command,—
For every generous bosom,
And every willing hand;
And now within Thy temple
Thy glory let us see;
For all its strength and beauty
Are nothing without Thee.
3 And oft as here we gather,
And hearts in worship blend,
May truth reveal its power,
Ånd fervent prayer ascend;
Here may the busy toiler
Rise to the things above;
The young-the old-be strengthened,
And all men learn Thy love.
4 And as the years roll over,
And strong affections twine
And tender memories gather
About this sacred shrine,
May this, its chief distinction,-
Its glory ever be,
That multitudes within it
Have found their way to Thee.
5 Lord God! our fathers' helper,-
Our joy and hope and stay,
Grant now a gracious earnest
Of many a coming day:
Our yearning hearts Thou knowest,
We wait before Thy throne,
O come, and by Thy presence
Make this new house Thine own!
F. W. GOADBY. 1872.
It was in thine heart to build an house unto
My name.-1 Kings 8. 18.
TOT for the things of fleeting time,
Not for the knowledge earth can give,
We raise this building, but for truths
That through eternity shall live.
2 Its stones may crumble into dust,
Its place by stranger-feet be trod;
But the high themes within it taught
Shall be immortal like their God.
3 God of all grace and boundless love,
Here bless the word Thyself hast given;
Let thousands here commence the course
That leads to Jesus, peace, and heaven.
4 Here condescend to dwell, and make
This temple Thy peculiar shrine,
And then, while endless ages last,
Be all the praise and glory Thine,
For the Lord hath chosen Zion.-Ps. 132. 13. UR fathers' Friend and God,
Hear Thou their children, Lord, and Thine!
Be near to us this day.
Upon this hallowed spot,
Thy face has often shone;
Thy Word been preached, Thy mercy felt,
Thy will with gladness done.
In faith we now renew
Our fathers' Sabbath home,
And with the memories of the past,
Link all the years to come.
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