38 Ward. L.M.
_Before Sermon._ (122)
Thy presence, gracious G.o.d! 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.
_Acts 2:1._ (792)
Command thy blessing from above O G.o.d, on all a.s.sembled 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 G.o.d confessed; Whom thou hast joined none may divide, None dare to curse whom thou hast blest.
James Montgomery
40 Mear. C.M.
_G.o.d"s Presence in Sanctuary_. (111)
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.
_Dedication_. (1175)
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 pa.s.sion dies.
William C. Bryant, 1835
42 Mear. C.M.
_Psalm 122._ (106)
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 G.o.d 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 G.o.d, my Saviour, reigns.
Isaac Watts, 1719
43 Lisbon. S.M.
_The Sabbath Welcomed._ (81)
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 in such a place, Where thou, my G.o.d, art seen, Is sweeter than ten thousand days Of pleasurable sin.
4 My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this, And sit and sing herself away To everlasting bliss.