Sabbath on Earth, and in Heaven. Ps. 92.
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 at 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 My heart shall triumph in the Lord,
And bless his works, and bless his word:
Thy works of grace, how bright they shine'
How deep thy counsels, how divine!
4 And I shall share a glorious part
When grace hath well refined my heart,
And fresh supplies of joy are shed,
Like holy oil, to cheer my head.
5 Sin, my worst enemy before,
Shall vex my eyes and ears no more;
My inward foes shall all be slain,
Nor ever break my peace again.
6 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.
Sabbath on Earth, and in Heaven.
1 FREQUENT the day of God returns
To shed its quickening beams;
And yet how slow devotion burns!
How languid are its flames!
2 Accept our faint attempts to love;
Our frailties, Lord, forgive.
We would be like thy saints above,
And praise thee while we live.
3 Increase, O Lord, our faith and hope,
And fit us to ascend
Where the assembly ne'er breaks up,
The sabbath ne'er shall end;
4 Where we shall breathe in heavenly air,
With heavenly lustre shine-
Before the throne of God appear,
And feast on love divine;
5 Where we, in high seraphic strains,
Shall all our powers employ-
Delighted range th' ethereal plains,
And take our fill of joy.
Rejoicing in the Lord's Day.
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 amidst the place
Where my dear Lord hath been,
Is sweeter than ten thousand days
Of folly, and of sin.
4 My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,
Till called to leave this house of clay
For everlasting bliss.
Invocation for Lord's Day Morning.
1 WELCOME, delightful morn,
Thou day of sacred rest'
We hail thy glad return:
Lord, make these moments blest. From low delights and mortal toys We soar to reach immortal joys.
2 Now may the King descend, And fill his throne of grace; Thy sceptre, Lord, extend,
While we address thy face.
O let us feel thy quickening word,
And learn to know and fear the Lord.
3 Descend, celestial Dove,
With all thy quickening powers; Disclose a Savior's love,
And bless these sacred hours.
Then shall our souls new life obtain,
Nor sabbaths be enjoyed in vain.
The Lord's Day Morning. Ps. 122.
1 THE joyful morn, my God, is come
That calls me to thy honored dome
Thy presence to adore.
My feet the summons shall attend,
With willing steps thy courts ascend,
And tread the hallowed floor.
2 Hither from Judah's utmost end
The heaven-protected tribes ascend-
Their offerings hither bring;
Here, eager to attest their joy,
In hymns of praise their tongues employ,
And hail th' immortal King.
3 Be peace implored by each on thee,
O Zion, while with bended knee
To Jacob's God we pray.
How blessed who calls himself thy friend!
Success his labors shall attend,
And safety guard his way.
4 0 mayst thou, free from hostile fear,
Nor the loud voice of tumult hear,
Nor war's wild wastes deplore ;
May plenty nigh thee take her stand,
And in thy courts, with lavish hand,
Distribute all her store.
5 Seat of my friends and brethren, hail!
How can my tongue, O Zion, fail
To bless thy loved abode ?
How cease the zeal that in me glows
Thy good to seek, whose walls inclose
The mansions of my God?
The Lord's Day Morning.
1 AWAKE, our drowsy souls!
Shake off each slothful band:
The wonders of this day
Our noblest songs demand.
Auspicious morn, thy blissful rays
Bright seraphs hail in songs of praise
2 At thy approaching dawn
Reluctant death resigned
The glorious Prince of life,
In the dark tomb confined.
Th' angelic host around him bends,
And, 'midst their shouts, the Lord ascends.
3 All hail, triumphant Lord!
Heaven with hosanna rings,
Whilst earth, in humbler strains,
Thy praise responsive sings.
Worthy art thou, who once wast slain,
Thro' endless years to live and reign.
4 Gird on, great King, thy sword,
Ascend thy conquering car,
Whilst justice, truth, and love,
Maintain the glorious war.
Victorious thou thy foes shalt tread,
And sin and death in triumph lead.
5 Make bare thy potent arm,
And wing th' unerring dart,
With salutary pangs,
To each rebellious heart.
Then dying souls for life shall sue,
Numerous as drops of morning dew.
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