2 Our willing feet shall stand
Within thy temple-door;
While young and old in many a band
Shall throng the sacred floor.
3 Within these walls may peace
And harmony be found
Zion, in all thy palaces,
Prosperity abound!
4 For friends and brethren dear,
Our prayer shall never cease
Oft as they meet for worship here,
God send his people peace!
Call to the House of Prayer.
1 COME to the house of prayer,
The God of peace shall meet you there
He makes that house his home.
2 Come to the house of praise,
Ye who are happy now;
In sweet accord your voices raise,
In kindred homage bow.
3 Ye aged, hither come,
For ye have felt his love:
Soon shall your trembling tongues be dumb.
Your lips forget to move.
4 Ye young, before his throne,
Come, bow; your voices raise;
Let not your hearts his praise disown
Who gives the power to praise.
5 Thou, whose benignant eye
In mercy looks on all-
Who see'st the tear of misery,
And hear'st the mourner's call-
6 Up to thy dwelling-place
Bear our frail spirits on,
Till they outstrip time's tardy pace,
And heaven on earth be won.
Delight in Public Worship.
1 LORD of the worlds above,
How pleasant and how fair
The dwellings of thy love,
Thine earthly temples, are!
To thine abode my heart aspires,
With warm desires to see my God.
2 O happy souls that pray
Where God appoints to hear!
O happy men that pay
Their constant service there!
They praise thee still; and happy they
Who love the way to Zion's hill.
3 They go from strength to strength,
Throughout these mortal years,
Till each arrives at length,
Till each in heaven appears :
O glorious seat, when God, our King,
Shall thither bring our willing feet!
A Blessing humbly requested.
1 LORD, we come before thee now;
At thy feet we humbly bow;
O, do not our suit disdain ;
Shall we seek thee, Lord, in vain?
2 In thine own appointed way,
Now we seek thee; here we stay;
Lord, from hence we would not go,
Till a blessing thou bestow.
3 Comfort those who weep
Let the time of joy return;
Those that are cast down, lift up;
Make them strong in faith and hope.
4 Grant that all may seek and find
Thee a God supremely kind;
Heal the sick; the captive free ;
Let us all rejoice in thee.
For Opening or Close of Service.
1 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 the 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.
1 FORTH from the dark and stormy sky,
Lord, to thine altar's shade we fly;
Forth from the world, its hope and fear,
Father, we seek thy shelter here:
Weary and weak, thy grace we pray;
Turn not, O Lord, thy guests away.
2 Long have we roamed in want and pain,
Long have we sought thy rest in vain;
Wildered in doubt, in darkness lost,
Long have our souls been tempest-tost:
Low at thy feet our sins we lay;
Turn not, O Lord, thy guests away.
1 THERE's a refuge of peace from the tempests that beat,
From the dark clouds that threaten, the wild wind that blows;
A holy, a sweet and a lovely retreat,
A spring of refreshment, a place of repose.
2 'Tis the house of my God, 't is the dwelling of prayer,
The temple all hallowed by blessing and praise; If sorrow and faithlessness conquer me, there My heart to the throne of his
3 For a refuge like this, ah, what praises are due!
For a rest so serene, for a covert so fair:
Ah, why are the seasons of worship so few?
And why are so seldom the meetings of prayer?
8 & 7s. M.
The Fount of Blessing.
1 FAR from mortal cares retreating,
Sordid hopes, and vain desires,
Here our willing footsteps meeting,
Every heart to heaven aspires.
2 From the fount of glory beaming,
Light celestial cheers our eyes,
Mercy from above proclaiming
Peace and pardon from the skies.
may share this great salvation?
Every pure and humble mind,
Every kindred, tongue, and nation,
From the stains of guilt refined.
4 Blessings all around bestowing,
God withholds his care from none,
Grace and mercy ever flowing
From the fountain of his throne.
1 GREAT Shepherd of thy people, hear;
Thy presence now display;
We kneel within thy house of
O, give us hearts to pray.
2 The clouds which veil thee from our sight,
In pity, Lord, remove;
Dispose our minds to hear aright
The message of thy love.
3 Help us, with holy fear and joy,
To kneel before thy face;
O, make us, creatures of thy power,
The children of thy grace.
Preparation for Worship.
1 LORD, before thy presence come,
Bow we down with holy fear;
Call our erring footsteps home,
Let us feel that thou art near.
2 Wandering thoughts and languid powers
Come not where devotion kneels;
Let the soul expand her stores,
Glowing with the joy she feels.
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