JOHANN CHRISTIAN HEINRICH E

OVERBERG. L. M.

78

Ardent hope of heavenly rest.

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

2 Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love;
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our laboring souls aspire
With ardent hope and strong desire.

3 No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin nor hell, shall reach the place;
No sighs shall mingle with the songs,
Which warble from 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.

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.

PHILIP DODDRIDGE.

79 Sabbath evening: Thy kingdom come. 1 MILLIONS within thy courts have met, Millions this day before thee bowed; Their faces Zionward were set,

Vows with their lips to thee they vowed. But thou, soul-searching God! hast known The hearts of all that bent the knee; And hast accepted those alone,

1 SWEET is the light of Sabbath eve, And soft the sunbeams lingering the For these blest hours the world I leav Wafted on wings of faith and praye

2 The time how lovely and how still! Peace shines and smiles on all below The plain, the stream, the wood, the h All fair with evening's setting glow.

3 Season of rest! the tranquil soul Feels the sweet calm, and melts to l And while these sacred moments roll, Faith sees the smiling heaven above. 4 Nor will our days of toil be long; Our pilgrimage will soon be trod; And we shall join the ceaseless song,

LOWELL MASON.

ROCKINGHAM. L. M.

1 SWEET is the work, my God, my King,
To praise thy name, give thanks, and sing;
To show thy love by morning light,
And talk of all thy truth by night.
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 When grace has purified my heart,
Then I shall share a glorious part;
And fresh supplies of joy be shed,
Like holy oil, to cheer my head.

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.

82

ISAAC WATTS.

Pledge of glorious rest.

1 RETURN, my soul, enjoy thy rest;
Improve the day thy God hath blest:
Another six days' work is done;
Another Sabbath is begun.

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

And draw from Christ that sweet repose,
Which none but he that 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 In holy duties, let the day,
In holy comforts pass away;
How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend,
In hope of one that ne'er shall end!

83

Hailing the Sabbath's return.

1 MY opening eyes with rapture see
The dawn of this returning day;
My thoughts, O God, ascend to thee,
While thus my early vows I pay.

2 I yield my heart to thee alone,
Nor would receive another guest:
Eternal King, erect thy throne,

And reign sole monarch in my breast. 3 O bid this trifling world retire, And drive each carnal thought away; Nor let me feel one vain desire,

One sinful thought, through all the day. 4 Then, to thy courts when I repair, My soul shall rise on joyful wing; The wonders of thy love declare, And join the strains which angels sing.

JAMES HUTTON.

84 Undisturbed devotion.

1 FAR from my thoughts, vain world, be gone!

Let my religious hours alone:

Fain would mine eyes my Saviour see;

I wait a visit, Lord, from thee.
20 warm my heart with holy fire.
And kindle there a pure desire:
Come, sacred Spirit, from above,
And fill my soul with heavenly love.
3 Blest Saviour, what delicious fare!
How sweet thine entertainments are!
Never did angels taste above
Redeeming grace and dying love.
4 Hail, great Immanuel, all divine!
In thee thy Father's glories shine;
Thy glorious name shall be adored,
And every tongue confess thee Lord.

LISBON. S. M.

DANIEL R

85

The Sabbath welcome.
1 WELCOME, sweet day of rest,
That saw the Lord arise;
Welcome to this reviving breast,
And these rejoicing eyes!

2 The King himself comes near,
And feasts his saints to-day;
Here we may sit, and see him here,
And love, and praise, and pray.

3 One day in such a place,

Where thou, my God, art seen, Is sweeter than ten thousand days Of pleasurable sin.

4 My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,
And sit and sing herself away
To everlasting bliss.

ISAAC WATTS.

86 Day of light, rest, peace, prayer.

1 THIS is the day of light:

Let there be light to-day;

O Day-spring, rise upon our night, And chase its gloom away.

2 This is the day of rest:

Our failing strength renew;

On weary brain and troubled breast Shed thou thy freshening dew.

8 This is the day of peace: Thy peace our spirits fill;

Bid thou the blasts of discord cease,

Show thy reconciled 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;
May we 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 thy gospel's joyful sound Conquer sinners, comfort saints; Make the fruits of grace abound,

Bring relief for all complaints: Thus may all our Sabbaths prove, Till we join the Church above.

JOHN NEWTON.

GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL.