3 And now while in thy courts, Do thou our love increase; Give us the food our spirits need, And fill our hearts with peace.
456 S. M. The ark of God.
Like Noah’s weary dove, That soared the earth around, But not a resting-place above The cheerless waters found;
2 O cease, my wandering soul, On restless wing to roam; All the wide world, to either pole, Has not for thee a home.
3 Behold the ark of God, Behold the open door; Hasten to gain that dear abode, And rove, my soul, no more.
4 There safe thou shalt abide, There sweet shall be thy rest, And every longing satisfied, With full salvation blest.
5 And when the waves of ire, Again the earth shall fill, The ark shall ride the sea of fire; Then rest on Zion’s hill.
457 S. M. The Lord loveth the gates of Zion. Psalm 87:2.
How honored is the place, Where we adoring stand! Zion, the glory of the earth, And beauty of the land.
2 Bulwarks of grace defend The city where we dwell; While walls of strong salvation made, Defy th’ assaults of hell.
3 Lift up th’ eternal gates, The doors wide open fling; Enter, ye nations, that obey The statutes of our King.
4 Here taste unmingled joys, And live in perfect peace; You that have known Jehovah’s name, And ventured on his grace.
5 Trust in the Lord, ye saints; And banish all your fears, Strength in the Lord Jehovah dwells, Eternal as his years.
458 S. M. The joy of the whole earth. Psalm 48:2.
Far as thy name is known The world declares thy praise; The saints, O Lord, before thy throne Their songs of honor raise.
2 With joy, thy people stand On Zion’s chosen hill, Proclaim the wonders of thy hand, And counsels of thy will.
3 Let strangers walk around The city where we dwell, Compass and view thy holy ground, And mark the building well.
4 How comely and how wise! How glorious to behold! Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes, And rites adorned with gold.
5 The God we worship now Will guide us till we die; Will be our God while here below, And ours above the sky.
459 S. M. The church in the wilderness.
Far down the ages now, Much of her journey done, The pilgrim church pursues her way, Until her crown be won.
2 The story of the past Comes up before her view: How well it seems to suit her still— Old, and yet ever new!
3 It is the oft-told tale Of sin and weariness— Of grace and love yet flowing down To pardon and to bless.
4 No wider is the gate, No broader is the way, No smoother is the ancient path, That leads to life and day.
5 No sweeter is the cup, Nor less our lot of ill: ’Twas tribulation ages since, ’Tis tribulation still.
6 No slacker grows the fight, No feebler is the foe, Nor less the need of armor tried, Of shield, and spear, and bow.
7 Thus onward still we press, Through evil and through good— Through pain, and poverty, and want, Through peril and through blood.
8 Still faithful to our God, And to our Captain true, We follow where he leads the way, The kingdom in our view.
460 8s & 7s. Glorious things are spoken of thee. Psalm 87:3.
Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God! He, whose word can not be broken, Formed thee for his own abode: On the Rock of ages founded, What can shake thy sure repose? With salvation’s wall surrounded, Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
2 See the streams of living waters, Springing from Eternal Love, Well supply thy sons and daughters, And all fear of drought remove: Who can faint while such a river Ever flows their thirst t’ assuage! Grace, which like the Lord, the giver, Never fails from age to age.
3 Round each habitation hovering, See the cloud and fire appear, For a glory and a covering, Showing that the Lord is near: Thus deriving from their banner Light by night, and shade by day, Safe they feed upon the manna Which he gives them when they pray.
4 Blest inhabitants of Zion, Washed in the Redeemer’s blood, Jesus, whom their souls rely on, Makes them kings and priests to God: ’Tis his love his people raises With himself to reign as kings; And, as priests, his solemn praises Each for a thank-offering brings.
5 Saviour, since of Zion’s city, I through grace a member am, Let the world deride or pity, I will glory in thy name: Fading is the worldling’s treasure, All his boasted pomp and show! Solid joys and lasting pleasure None but Zion’s children know.
461 10s. When the Lord shall bring again Zion. Isaiah 52:8.
Restore, O Father! to our times restore The peace which filled thine infant Church of yore, Ere lust of power had sown the seeds of strife, And quenched the new-born charities of life.