1 LORD of the Sabbath! hear our vows,
On this thy day, in this thy house;
And own, as grateful sacrifice,
The songs which in thy temple rise.
2 Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love;
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our longing souls aspire,
With cheerful hope and strong desire.
3 No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin, nor death, shall reach the place;
No groans shall mingle with the songs
Which dwell upon 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.
5 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.
1 SLEEP, sleep to-day, tormenting cares,
Of earth and folly born!
Ye shall not dim the light that streams
From this celestial morn.
2 To-morrow will be time enough
To feel your harsh control;
Ye shall not violate this day,
The Sabbath of my soul.
3 Sleep, sleep for ever, guilty thoughts!
Let fires of vengeance die;
And, purged from sin, may I behold
A God of purity!
1 ANOTHER Six days' work is done,
Another Sabbath is begun ;
Return, my soul, enjoy thy rest,
Improve the day that God has blessed.
2 O that our thoughts and thanks may rise As grateful incense to the skies,
And draw from heaven that sweet repose
Which none but he who 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 With joy, great God! thy works we view,
In various scenes, both old and new ;
With praise we think on mercies past,
With hope we future mercies taste.
5 In holy duties let the day,
In holy pleasures, pass away;
How sweet this Sabbath thus to spend,
In hope of that which ne'er shall end!
I WELCOME, delightful morn!
Sweet day of sacred rest,
I hail thy kind return;
Lord, make these moments blest;
From the low train of mortal toys,
I soar to reach immortal joys.
2 Now may the King descend,
And fill his throne of grace;
Thy sceptre, Lord, extend,
While saints address thy face;
Let sinners feel thy quickening word,
And learn to know and fear the Lord.
3 Descend, celestial Dove,
With all thy quickening powers;
Disclose a Saviour's love,
And bless these sacred hours:
Then shall my soul new life obtain,
Nor Sabbaths be enjoyed in vain.
The Sacrifice of the Heart.
1 WHEN, as returns this solemn day,
Man comes to meet his Maker, God,
What rites, what honors, shall he pay?
How spread his Sovereign's praise abroad?
2 From marble domes and gilded spires
Shall curling clouds of incense rise?
And gems, and gold, and garlands deck
The costly pomp of sacrifice?
3 Vain, sinful man! creation's Lord
Thy golden offerings well may spare;
But give thy heart, and thou shalt find
Here dwells a God who heareth prayer.
SEE what a living stone
The builders did refuse!
Yet God hath built his church thereon
In spite of envious Jews.
2 The work, O Lord, is thine,
And wondrous in our eyes;
This day declares it all divine;
This day did Jesus rise.
3 This is the glorious day
That our Redeemer made;
Let us rejoice, and sing, and pray;
Let all the church be glad.
Hosanna to the King
Of David's royal blood!
Bless him, ye saints; he comes to bring
Salvation from your God.
5 We bless thine holy word,
Which all this grace displays,
And offer on thine altar, Lord,
Our sacrifice of praise.
1 WHAT pleasure, Lord! thy house attends,
When the whole heart to heaven ascends;
One day thus spent with thee on earth
Exceeds a thousand days of mirth.
2 While we can have the meanest place
Within thy house, O God of grace!
We would not absent from thee live,
For all a tempting world can give.
3 Happy the saints around thy throne,
Who know thee as themselves are known;
Thy brightest glories shine above,
And all their work is praise and love.
4 Happy the souls that find a place
In earthly temples of thy grace;
Here they behold thy gentler rays,
Inquire thy will, and learn to praise.
5 Happy 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.
6 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.
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