3 Thy presence in thy house afford, And bless the preaching of thy word, That sinners may their danger see, And now begin to mourn for thee.
689 C. M. Homage and devotion.
With sacred joy we lift our eyes To those bright realms above, That glorious temple in the skies, Where dwells eternal Love.
2 Before the gracious throne we bow Of heaven’s almighty King; Here we present the solemn vow, And hymns of praise we sing.
3 O Lord, while in thy house we kneel, With trust and holy fear, Thy mercy and thy truth reveal, And lend a gracious ear.
4 With fervor teach our hearts to pray, And tune our lips to sing; Nor from thy presence cast away The sacrifice we bring.
690 C. M. Lift thou the light of thy countenance, etc. Psalm 4:6
Within thy house, O Lord, our God, In glory now appear; Make this a place of thine abode, And shed thy blessings here.
2 When we thy mercy-seat surround, Thy Spirit, Lord, impart; And let thy gospel’s joyful sound, With power, reach every heart.
3 Here let the blind their sight obtain; Here give the mourners rest; Let Jesus here triumphant reign, Enthroned in every breast.
4 Here let the voice of sacred joy And humble prayer arise, Till higher strains our tongues employ In realms beyond the skies.
691 C. M. The house of God.
My soul! how lovely is the place, To which thy God resorts! ’Tis heaven to see his smiling face, Though in his earthly courts.
2 There the great Monarch of the skies His saving power displays, And light breaks in upon our eyes, With kind and quickening rays.
3 There, mighty God! thy words declare The secrets of thy will; And still we seek thy mercy there, And sing thy praises still.
692 C. M. What shall I render. Psalm 116:12.
What shall I render to my God For all his kindness shown? My feet shall visit thine abode, My songs address thy throne.
2 Among the saints that fill thy house, My offerings shall be paid; There shall my zeal perform the vows My soul in anguish made.
3 How happy all thy servants are, How great thy grace to me! My life, which thou hast made thy care, Lord, I devote to thee.
4 Now I am thine, for ever thine, Nor shall my purpose move; Thy hand hath loosed my bonds of pain, And bound me with thy love.
5 Here in thy courts I leave my vow, And thy rich grace record; Witness, ye saints, who hear me now, If I forsake the Lord.
693 C. M. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. Isaiah 40:31.
Come, O thou King of all thy saints, Our humble tribute own, While, with our praises and complaints, We bow before thy throne.
2 How should our songs, like those above, With warm devotion rise! How should our souls on wings of love, Mount upward to the skies!
3 But, ah, the song, how faint it flows! How languid our desire! How dim the sacred passion glows, Till thou the heart inspire!
4 Blest Saviour, let thy glory shine, And fill thy dwellings here, Till life, and love, and joy divine, A heaven on earth appear.
694 C. M. Again the Lord of light and life.
Again the Lord of light and life Awakes the kindling ray, Unseals the eyelids of the morn, And pours increasing day.
2 O what a night was that which wrapt The heathen world in gloom! O what a Sun which rose this day Triumphant from the tomb!
3 This day be grateful homage paid And loud hosannas sung; Let gladness dwell in every heart, And praise on every tongue.
4 Ten thousand different lips shall join To hail this welcome morn, Which scatters blessings from its wings To nations yet unborn.
695 C. M. With the pure thou wilt show thyself pure. 2 Sam. 22:27.
The offerings to thy throne which rise, Of mingled praise and prayer, Are but a worthless sacrifice Unless the heart is there.
2 Upon thine all-discerning ear Let no vain words intrude; No tribute but the vow sincere— The tribute of the good.
3 My offerings will indeed be blest, If sanctified by thee— If thy pure Spirit touch my breast With its own purity.
4 O, may that Spirit warm my heart To piety and love, And to life’s lowly vale impart Some rays from heaven above.
696 C. M. Let us go up to the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:1.
Again our earthly cares we leave, And to thy courts repair; Again, with joyful feet, we come To meet our Saviour here.
2 Within these 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.