552

L. M.

WATTS

God and his Church. Ps. 84.

1 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 the 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.

553

C. M.

WATTS.

The Church our Delight and Safety. Ps. 27. 1 THE Lord of glory is my Light, And my Salvation too;

God is my Strength, nor will I fear
What all my foes can do.

2 One privilege my heart desires:
O, grant me an abode

Among the churches of thy saints,
The temples of my God.

3 There shall I offer my requests,
And see thy beauty still,

Shall hear thy messages of love,
And there inquire thy will.

4 When troubles rise and storms appear,
There may his children hide;
God has a strong pavilion, where
He makes my soul abide.

5 Wait on the Lord, ye trembling saints,
And keep your courage up;

He'll raise your spirit when it faints,
And far exceed your hope.

The Beauty of the Church. Ps. 48.

1 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 honors of our native place,
And bulwarks of our land.

3 Let strangers walk around

WATTS.

The city where we dwell,
Compass and view thy holy ground,
And mark the building well, –

4 The orders of thy house,

The worship of thy court,

The cheerful songs, the solemn vows,
And make a fair report.

5 How decent and how wise!
How glorious to behold!

Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes,
And rites adorned with gold.

6 The God we worship now
Will guide us till we die

Will be our God while here below,
And ours above the sky.

Longing for the House of God. Ps. 84.

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 The sparrow for her young
With pleasure seeks a nest,
And wandering swallows long
To find their wonted rest :
My spirit faints

With equal zeal
To rise and dwell
Among thy saints.

30 happy souls that pray

Where God appoints to hear!

O happy men that pay

Their constant service there!

WATTS.

They praise thee still,
And happy they

That love the way
To Zion's hill.

4 They go from strength to strength Through this dark vale of tears,

Till each arrives at length,
Till each in heaven appears:

O glorious seat,

When God our King

Shall thither bring

Our willing feet!

5 To spend one sacred day

Where God and saints abide,
Affords diviner joy

Than thousand days beside:
Where God resorts,

I love it more
To keep the door

Than shine in courts.

6 The Lord his people loves;

His hand no good withholds
From those his heart approves,
From pure and pious souls:
Thrice happy he,

O God of hosts,

Whose spirit trusts
Alone in thee.

439

556

S. M.

E. TAYLOR.

Invitation to the House of God.

1 COME to the house of prayer,

O thou afflicted, come;

The God of peace shall meet thee 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 seest 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.

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