2 When first thy light the east array'd,
And morning stars shone on the sky,
Earth's corner-stone with joy was laid,
The sons of glory sung on high.
3 Then Eden rose in heaven's light;
Beneath thy hand creation stood;
Thy word dispell'd chaotic night-
Thy smile approved-the work was good.
4 To us O may thy smile be given,
This corner-stone approved by thee;
Our work complete, O Lord of heaven;
Thy glory here let thousands see!
613 Dover-p. 120.]
URELY the Lord is here,
and loves this holy place,
He hears the voice of fervent prayer,
And gives the promised grace.
2 How bless'd is this abode,
Where angels' food is given!
'Tis no less than the house of God,
O'tis the gate of heaven.
3 Our corner-stone shall tell
The place where we have found
The Lord, who deigns with man to dwell,
And seals this holy ground.
4 Our altar here we raise,
For he our help hath been;
With angel hosts his name we 'll praise,
Who have his wonders seen.
5 Our Rock the Son of God,
The Lord's Anointed One;
Eternal life is in his word,
Salvation his alone.
6 When in his house above
His gather'd tribes appear;
May we partake his endless love,
Who worship Jesus here.
614 Slateford-p. 306.] 20th P. M. 66,77,77. The Lord's Prayer.
ATHER of earth and sky,
Thy name we magnify :
O that earth and heaven might join,
Thy perfections to proclaim;
Praise the attributes divine,
Fear and love thy awful name!
2 When shall thy Spirit reign
In every heart of man?
Father, bring the kingdom near,
Honour thy triumphant Son;
God of heaven, on earth appear,
Fix with us thy glorious throne !
3 Thy good and holy will
Let all on earth fulfil;
Men with minds angelic vie,
Saints below with saints above,
Thee to praise and glorify,
Thee to serve with perfect love.
4 This day, with this day's bread,
Thy hungry children feed;
Fountain of all blessings, grant
Now the manna from above;
Now supply our bodies' want,
Now sustain our souls with love.
5 Our trespasses forgive:
And when absolved we live,
Thou our life of grace maintain;
Lest we from our God depart,
Lose thy pard'ning grace again,
Grant us a forgiving heart.
6 In every fiery hour
Display thy guardian power;
Near in our temptation stay,
With sufficient strength defend;
Bring us through the evil day,
Make us faithful to the end.
7 Father, by right divine
Assert the kingdom thine;
Jesus, power of God, subdue
Thy own universe to thee;
Spirit of grace and glory too,
Reign through all eternity!
ON DEDICATING A HOUSE OF WORSHIP'
GREAT God, the watchful care we bless,
Which guards these sacred courts in peace; Nor dare tumultuous foes invade
To fill thy worshippers with dread.
2 These walls we to thy honour raise,
Long may they echo to thy praise !
And thou descending, fill the place
With choicest tokens of thy grace.
3 And in the great decisive day,
When God the nations shall survey,
May it before the world appear
That crowds were born to glory here.
HOW pleasant, how divinely fair,
O Lord of hosts, thy dwellings are!
With strong desire my spirit faints
To meet th' assemblies of thy saints.
2 Bless'd are the saints that sit on high,
Around thy throne of majesty;
Thy brightest glories shine above,
And all their work is praise and love.
3 Bless'd are the souls that find a place
Within the temple of thy grace :
Here they behold thy gentler rays,
And seek thy face, and learn thy praise.
4 Bless'd are the men whose hearts are set To find the way to Sion's gate;
God is their strength, and through the road They lean upon their helper, God.
5 Cheerful they walk with growing strength, Till all shall meet in heaven at length; Till all before thy face appear,
And join in nobler worship there.
617 Luton-p. 74.]
REAT God, attend, while Sion sings The joy that from thy presence springs; To spend one day with thee on earth Exceeds a thousand days of mirth.
2 Might I enjoy the meanest place
Within thine house, O God of grace,
Not tents of ease, nor thrones of power,
Should tempt my feet to leave thy door.
3 God is our sun, he makes our day:
God is our shield, he guards our way
From all th' assaults of hell and sin;
From foes without and foes within.
4 All needful grace will God bestow,
And crown that grace with glory too;
He gives us all things, and withholds
No real good from upright souls.
5 O God our King, whose sovereign sway
The glorious hosts of heaven obey,
And devils at thy presence flee,
Bless'd is the man that trusts in thee.
Stafford-p. 142.]
GREAT is the Lord our God,
And let his praise be great;
He makes his churches his abode,
His most delightful seat.
2 These temples of his grace,
How beautiful they stand!
The honours of our native place,
And bulwarks of our land.
3 In Sion God is known
A refuge in distress;
How bright has his salvation shone
Through all her palaces!
4 In every new distress
We'll to his house repair;
We'll think upon his wondrous grace,
And seek deliverance there.
WITH glory clad, with strength array'd,
Lord, that o'er all nature reigns,
The world's foundations strongly laid,
And the vast fabric still sustains.
2 How sure establish'd is thy throne,
Which shall no change or period see!
For thou, O Lord, and thou alone,
Art King from all eternity.
3 The floods, O Lord, lift up their voice,
And toss their troubled waves on high:
But God above can still their noise,
And make the angry sea comply.
4 Thy promise, Lord, is ever sure:
And they that in thy house would dwell,
That happy station to secure,
Must still in holiness excel.
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