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 may we sit and see him here, And love, and praise, and pray.
3 One day, amid the place Where Christ my Lord, hath been, Is sweeter than ten thousand days Within the tents of sin.
4 My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this, And sit and sing herself away To everlasting bliss.
627 S. P. M. I was glad. Psalm 122:1.
How pleased and blessed was I, To hear the people cry— “Come, let us seek our God to-day!” Yes, with a cheerful zeal, We haste to Zion’s hill, And there our vows and honors pay.
2 Zion! thrice happy place, Adorned with wondrous grace And walls of strength embrace thee round; In thee our tribes appear, To pray, and praise, and hear The sacred gospel’s joyful sound.
3 May peace attend thy gate, And joy within thee wait, To bless the soul of every guest: The man who seeks thy peace, And wishes thine increase— A thousand blessings on him rest!
628 7s, double. Hail the day that saw him rise.
Hail the day that saw him rise, Ravished from his people’s eyes; Christ, awhile to mortals given, Re-ascends his native heaven. There the glorious triumph waits— “Lift your heads, you heavenly gates; Wide unfold the radiant scene, Take the King of glory in.”
2 He, whom highest heaven receives, Ever loves the friends he leaves; Though returning to his throne, Still he calls his saints his own; Still for us he intercedes, Prevalent his death he pleads; Near himself prepares a place, Harbinger of human race.
3 Taken from our eyes to-day, Master, hear us when we pray; See thy needy servants, see, Ever gazing up to thee: Grant, though parted from our sight, Far above yon azure hight, Grant our hearts may thither rise, Follow thee beyond the skies.
4 Ever upward let us move, Wafted on the wings of love; Looking when the Lord shall come, Longing, reaching after home; There for ever to remain, Partners of thy endless reign; There thy face unclouded see, Find our heaven of heavens in thee.
629 7s, 6 lines. Springs in the desert. Isaiah 49:10.
Safely through another week God has brought us on our way; Let us each a blessing seek, Waiting in his courts to-day: Day of all the week the best, Emblem of eternal rest.
2 While we seek supplies of grace Through the blest Redeemer’s name, Show thy reconciling face, Take away our sin and shame: From our worldly care set free, May we rest this day in thee.
3 Here we come thy name to praise, Let us feel thy presence near; May thy glory meet our eyes, While we in thy house appear; Here afford us, Lord, a taste Of our everlasting rest.
4 May the gospel’s joyful sound Conquer sinners—comfort saints: Make the fruits of grace abound, Bring relief to all complaints: Thus let all our worship prove, Till we join thy courts above.
5 Glory be to God on high— God, whose glory fills the sky; Glory to the Lamb be given— Glory in the highest heaven: Wisdom, riches, praise, and power, Be to God for evermore.
630 H. M. The resurrection celebrated.
Awake, ye saints, awake, And hail the sacred day; In loftiest songs of praise Your joyful homage pay; Come bless the day that God hath blest, The type of heaven’s eternal rest.
2 On this auspicious morn The Lord of life arose, And burst the bars of death, And vanquished all our foes; And now he pleads our cause above, And reaps the fruit of all his love.
3 All hail, triumphant Lord! Heaven with hosannas rings; All earth, in humbler strains, Thy praise responsive sings; Worthy the Lamb that once was slain, Through endless years to live and reign.
631 H. M. A day in thy courts, etc. Psalm 84:10.
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.
2 God is our sun and shield, Our light and our defense; With gifts his hands are filled; We draw our blessings thence: He will bestow On Israel’s race Peculiar grace, And glory too.
3 The Lord his people loves; His hand no good withholds From those his heart approves— From pure and upright souls: Thrice happy he, O God of hosts, Whose spirit trusts Alone in thee.
632 H. M. Welcome, delightful morn.
Welcome, delightful morn, Thou 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.