351.

SECTION IV.

DOMESTIC WORSHIP.

L. M.

FATHER of men! thy care we bless,
Which crowns our families with peace;
From thee they spring, and by thy hand
Their root and branches are sustain'd.

2 To God, most worthy to be praised,
Be our domestic altars raised;

Though Lord of heaven, he deigns to dwell
With saints, in their obscurest cell.

3 To thee let each united house,
Morning and night present its vows:
Our servants there, and rising race,
Be taught thy precepts and thy grace.
4 O may each future age proclaim
The honours of thy glorious name;
While pleased and thankful we remove,
To join thy family above.

352.

[L. B. 477.]

6 lines 8.

How good and pleasant 'tis to see,
When brethren cordially agree,
And kindly think and speak the same
A family of faith and love,

Combined to seek the things above,
And spread the common Saviour's fame.

2 The God of grace, who all invites,
Who in our unity delights,
Vouchsafes our intercourse to bless:
Revives us with refreshing showers;
The fulness of his blessing pours,
And keeps our minds in perfect peace.

Y

3 Jesus, thou precious Corner-stone,
Preserve inseparably one,

Whom thou didst by thy Spirit join;
Still let us in thy Spirit live,

And to thy church the pattern give
Of unanimity divine.

4 Still let us to each other cleave,
And from thy plenitude receive
Constant supplies of hallow'd grace:
Till to a perfect man we rise;
Rejoin our kindred in the skies,
And find prepared our heavenly place.

353.

[L. B. 478.]

4 lines 6 & 2-9

2

3

COME away to the skies,

My beloved, arise,

And rejoice in the day thou wast born:

On this festival day,

Come exulting away,

And with singing, to Zion return.

We have laid up our love,

And our treasure above,

Though our bodies continue below;
The redeem'd of the Lord,

We remember his word,

And with singing, to Paradise go.

With singing we praise

The original grace,

By our heavenly Father bestow'd;

Our being receive

From his bounty, and live

To the honour and glory of God.

For thy glory we are

Created to share

Both the nature and kingdom divine;

Created again,

That our souls may remain

In time and eternity thine.

5

Hallelujah we sing,

To our Father and King,
And his rapturous praises repeat;
To the Lamb that was slain,
Hallelujah again,

Sing all heaven, and fall at his feet!

354.

SECTION V.

PRIVATE DEVOTION.

[L. B. 115.]

FATHER of Jesus Christ, my Lord,
I humbly seek thy face:
Encouraged by the Saviour's word
To ask thy pardoning grace.

2 Entering into my closet, I
The busy world exclude;
In secret prayer for mercy cry,
And groan to be renew'd.

3 Far from the paths of men, to thee
I solemnly retire:

See thou, who dost in secret see,
And grant my heart's desire.

4 Thy grace I languish to receive,
The Spirit of love and power;
Blameless before thy face to live,
To live and sin no more.

5 Fain would I all thy goodness feel,
And know my sins forgiven;
And do on earth thy perfect will,
As angels do in heaven.

6 O Father, glorify thy Son,
And grant what I require;

C. M.

For Jesus' sake the gift send down,
And answer me by fire.

7 Kindle the flame of love within,
Which may to heaven ascend;
And now the work of grace begin,
Which shall in glory end.

355.

[L. B. 348.]

8 lines 7 & 6.

OPEN, Lord, my inward ear,
And bid my heart rejoice;

Bid my quiet spirit hear

Thy comfortable voice:
Never in the whirlwind found,

Or where earthquakes rock the place;
Still and silent is the sound,

The whisper of thy grace.

2 From the world of sin, and noise,
And hurry, I withdraw;
For the small and inward voice
I wait with humble awe:

Silent am I now and still,
Dare not in thy presence move;
To my waiting soul reveal

The secret of thy love.

3 Show me, as my soul can bear, The depth of inbred sin:

All the unbelief declare,

The pride that lurks within:
Take me, whom thyself hast bought;
Bring into captivity

Every high aspiring thought,

That would not stoop to thee.

4 Lord, my time is in thy hand;
My soul to thee convert:

Thou canst make me understand,
Though I am slow of heart:

Thine, in whom I live and move,
Thine the work, the praise is thine;
Thou art Wisdom, Power, and Love,
And all thou art is mine.

356.

C. M.

RETIRED from noise, my silent thoughts

On things celestial muse;
Reflection calmly looks behind,

While faith the future views.

2 Here all is rest and sweet repose;
Here all my sorrows cease;
For Jesus meets my spirit here,
And kindly whispers peace.

357.

C. M.

FAR from the world, O Lord, I flee,
From strife and tumult far;

From scenes where Satan wages still
His most successful war.

2 The calm retreat, the silent shade,
With prayer and praise agree,
And seem by thy sweet bounty made
For those who follow thee.

3 There, if thy Spirit touch the soul,
And grace her mean abode;

Oh! with what peace, and joy, and love,
She communes with her God.

4 There, like the nightingale, she pours
Her solitary lays;

Nor asks a witness of her song,
Nor thirsts for human praise.

5 Author and Guardian of my life,
Sweet Source of love divine;
And all harmonious names in one;
My Saviour, thou art mine!