30 Gerar. S.M.

(128) The Glories of the Sanctuary.

How charming is the place

Where my Redeemer God

Unveils 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.

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.

S. Stennett.

31 Hendon. 7s.

(134) A Blessing Implored.

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 Send some message from thy word,

That may joy and peace afford;

Let thy Spirit now impart

Full salvation to each heart.

3 Comfort those who weep and mourn;

Let the time of joy return;

Those that are cast down lift up,

Strong in faith, in love, and hope.

4 Grant that those who seek may find

Thee, a God sincere and kind;

Heal the sick, the captive free,

Let us all rejoice in thee.

William Hammond, 1745.

32 Sicily. 8s, 7s, & 4s.

(137) Opening of Service.

In thy name, O Lord! assembling,

We, thy people, now draw near;

Teach us to rejoice with trembling;

Speak, and let thy servants hear--

Hear with meekness--

Hear thy word with godly fear.

2 While our days on earth are lengthened,

May we give them, Lord, to thee;

Cheered by hope, and daily strengthened,

May we run, nor weary be,

Till thy glory

Without clouds in heaven we see.

3 There, in worship, purer, sweeter,

Thee thy people shall adore;

Tasting of enjoyment greater

Far than thought conceived before;

Full enjoyment,

Full, unmixed, and evermore.

Thomas Kelly, 1809.

33 Sicily. 8s, 7s, & 4s.

(141) Close of Service.

Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing,

Fill our hearts with joy and peace;

Let us each, thy love possessing,

Triumph in redeeming grace;

Oh! refresh us,

Traveling through this wilderness.

2 Thanks we give and adoration,

For thy gospel's joyful sound;

May the fruits of thy salvation

In our hearts and lives abound;

May thy presence

With us, evermore, be found.

3 So, whene'er the signal's given,

Us from earth to call away,

Borne on angel's wings to heaven,

Glad the summons to obey,

We shall surely

Reign with Christ in endless day.

Walter Shirley, 1774.

34 Sicily. 8s, 7s, & 4s.

(139) Plea for Parting Blessing.

God of our salvation! hear us;

Bless, oh, bless us, ere we go;

When we join the world, be near us,

Lest we cold and careless grow.

Savior! keep us;

Keep us safe from every foe.

2 As our steps are drawing nearer

To our everlasting home,

May our view of heaven grow clearer,

Hope more bright of joys to come;

And, when dying,

May thy presence cheer the gloom.

Thomas Kelly, 1809.

35 Mendon. L.M.

(119) Psalm 84.

Great God! attend while Zion 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 thy 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;

Blest is the man that trusts in thee!

Isaac Watts, 1719.

36 Mendon L.M.

(124) The Presence of Christ.

How sweet to leave the world awhile,

And seek the presence of our Lord!

Dear Savior! on thy people smile,

And come, according to thy word.

2 From busy scenes we now retreat,

That we may here converse with thee:

Ah! Lord! behold us at thy feet;--

Let this the gate of heaven be.

3 Chief of ten thousand! now appear,

That we by faith may see thy face;

Oh! speak, that we thy voice may hear

And let thy presence fill this place.

Thomas Kelly, 1809.

37 Mendon. L.M.

(127) Psalm 84.

How pleasant, how divinely fair,

O Lord of hosts, thy dwellings are!

With long desire my spirit faints,

To meet the assemblies of thy saints.

2 My flesh would rest in thine abode;

My panting heart cries out for God;

My God! my King! why should I be

So far from all my joys and thee?

3 Blest are the souls who find a place

Within the temple of thy grace;

There they behold thy gentler rays,

And seek thy face and learn thy praise.

4 Blest are the men whose hearts are set

To find the way to Zion'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.

Isaac Watts, 1719

38 Ward. L.M.

(122) Before Sermon.

Thy presence, gracious God! afford:

Prepare us to receive thy word;

Now let thy voice engage our ear,

And faith be mixed with what we hear.

2 Distracting thoughts and cares remove,

And fix our hearts and hopes above;

With food divine may we be fed

And satisfied with living bread.

3 To us thy sacred word apply,

With sovereign power and energy;

And may we, in thy faith and fear,

Reduce to practice what we hear.

4 Father, in us thy Son reveal;

Teach us to know and do thy will;

Thy saving power and love display.

And guide us to the realms of day.

John Fawcett. 1782.

39 Migdol. L.M.

(792) Acts 2:1.

Command thy blessing from above

O God, on all assembled here;

Behold us with a Father's love,

While we look up with filial fear.

2 Command thy blessing, Jesus, Lord!

May we thy true disciples be;

Speak to each heart the mighty word--

Say to the weakest, follow me.

3 Command thy blessing in this hour,

Spirit of truth! and till the place

With wounding and with healing power,

With quickening and confirming grace.

4 Oh, thou, our Maker, Savior, Guide,

One true, eternal God confessed;

Whom thou hast joined none may divide,

None dare to curse whom thou hast blest.

James Montgomery

40 Mear. C.M.

(111) God's Presence in Sanctuary.

Again our earthly cares we leave,

And in thy courts appear;

Again, with joyful feet, we come

To meet our Savior here.

2 Within those walls let holy peace.

And love, and concord dwell;

Here give the troubled conscience ease--

The wounded spirit heal.

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 Shew us some token of thy love,

Our fainting hope to raise;

And pour thy blessing from above,

That we may render praise.

John Newton, 1779, a.

41 Mear. C.M.

(1175) Dedication.

Oh, thou, whose own vast temple stands,

Built over earth and sea!

Accept the walls that human hands

Have raised to worship thee.

2 Lord! from thine inmost glory send,

Within these walls t' abide,

The peace that dwelleth without end

Serenely by thy side!

3 May erring minds, that worship here,

Be taught the better way;

And they who mourn, and they who fear,

Be strengthened as they pray.

4 May faith grow firm, and love grow warm,

And pure devotion rise,

While, round these hallowed walls, the storm

Of earth-born passion dies.

William C. Bryant, 1835

42 Mear. C.M.

(106) Psalm 122.

How did my heart rejoice to hear

My friends devoutly say--

"In Zion let us all appear--

And keep the solemn day!"

2 I love her gates, I love the road;

The church, adorned with grace,

Stands like a palace, built for God

To show his milder face.

3 Up to her courts, with joys unknown,

The holy tribes repair;

The Son of David holds his throne,

And sits in judgment there.

4 He hears our praises and complaints;

And, while his awful voice

Divides the sinners from the saints,

We tremble and rejoice.

5 Peace be within this sacred place,

And joy a constant guest!

With holy gifts and heavenly grace

By her attendants blest!

6 My soul shall pray for Zion still,

While life or breath remains;

There my best friends, my kindred, dwell,

There God, my Saviour, reigns.