Saturday Evening. (P. M.)
AFELY, through another week,
God has brought us on our way;
Let us now a blessing seek
On th' approaching sabbath-day:
Day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eternal rest.
2 When the morn shall bid us rise,
May we feel thy presence near !
May thy glory meet our eyes,
When we in thy house appear!
There afford us, Lord, a taste
Of our everlasting feast.
3 May thy gospel's joyful sound
Conquer sinners, comfort saints;
Make the fruits of grace abound,
Bring relief for all complaints:
Thus may all our sabbaths prove,
Till we join the church above!
Family Religion. (L. M.)
'HERE'ER the Lord shall build my house, An altar to his name I'll raise; There morn and ev'ning shall ascend The sacrifice of pray'r and praise.
2 With duteous mind the social band
Shall search the records of thy law;
There learn thy will, and humbly bow
With filial reverence and awe.
3 If num'rous blessings of the earth,
Indulgent providence afford,
With warm united hearts we'll pay
Our grateful tribute to the Lord.
4 Here may he fix his sacred seat,
And
spread the banner of his love; Till, ripen'd for a happier state,
We meet th' assembled church above.
A Psalm before Sermon. (S. M.)
COME, sound his praise abroad,
And hymns of glory sing;
Jehovah is the sov'reign God,
The universal King.
2 He form'd the deeps unknown;
seas their bound;
The wat'ry worlds are all his own,
And all the solid ground.
3 Come, worship at his throne;
Come, bow before the Lord:
We are his works, and not our own;
He form'd us by his word.
4 To-day attend his voice,
Nor dare provoke his rod;
Come, like the people of his choice,
And own your gracious God.
5 But if your ears refuse
The language of his grace,
And hearts grow hard, like stubborn Jews,
That unbelieving race;
6 The Lord, in vengeance drest,
Will lift his hand and swear,
"You that despise my promis'd rest,
"Shall have no portion there."
A Blessing implored. (C. M.)
NOW may the Spirit's holy fire,
Descending from above,
His waiting family inspire,
With joy, and peace, and love!
2 Wake, heavenly wind, arise, and come,
Blow on the drooping field;
Our spices then shall breath perfume,
And fragrant incence yield.
3 Touch with a living coal the lip
That shall proclaim thy word;
And bid us all devoutly keep
Attention to the Lord.
33. Waiting for Divine Unction. (P.M.)
OURCE of light and power divine,
Deign upon thy truth to shine;
Lord, behold thy servant stands,
Lo, to thee he lifts his hands:
Satisfy his soul's desire,
Touch his lips with holy fire!
Source of light and power divine,
Deign upon thy truth to shine.
2 Breath thy Spirit, so shall fall
Unction sweet upon us all;
Till, by odours scatter'd round,
Christ himself be traced and found;
Then shall every raptur'd heart,
Rich in peace and joy, depart:
Source of light and power divine,
Deign upon thy truth to shine.
34. Before hearing the Word. (P.M.)
E that in his courts are found,
List'ning to the gospel sound,
Lost and helpless as ye are,
Sons of sorrow, sin, and care,
Glorify the King of kings,
Take the peace the gospel brings.
2 Turn to Christ your longing eyes,
View his bloody sacrifice;
See in him your sins forgiven,
Pardon, holiness, and heaven:
Glorify the King of kings,
Take the peace the gospel brings.
35. A Blessing requested. (P. M.)
1 COME, thou soul-transforming Spirit,
Bless the sower and the seed:
Let each heart thy grace inherit,
Raise the weak, the hungry feed;
From the gospel,
Now supply thy people's need.
2 Help us all to ask the blessing,
Which thou waitest now to give :
May we all, thy love possessing,
Joyfully the truth receive,
And for ever
To thy praise and glory live.
3 Then, whene'er the signal's given,
Us from earth to call away,
Borne on angel's wings to heaven,
Glad the summons to obey,
May we ever
Reign with Christ in endless day.
A Blessing implored. (C. M.)
ALMIGHTY God! have we not heard,
Once and again, thy voice;
And has not conscience sometimes fear'd,
And pierc'd us with its cries?
2 Once and again we had a place
Beneath thy gospel's sound,
What dying beds, what opening graves,
Have we been call'd around.
3 Have not thy Spirit's gentle gales
Whisper'd within our ears?
Have not thy thunder's warning peals
Awak'd our drowsy fears?
4 Blest Saviour! let thy powerful grace
Bid thoughtless sinners live;
And what thy word and rod require,
Let thy free Spirit give.
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