Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 8

The Lord's Day.

1 How welcome to the soul, when pressed With six days' noise, and care, and toil, Is the returning day of rest, Which hides us from the world awhile!

2 How happy they, whose lot is cast Where Christ invites the "weary" yet; They find their sorrows quickly past, And all their burdens soon forget.

3 Though pinched with poverty at home, With sharp afflictions daily fed, It makes amends, if they can come To G.o.d's own house for heavenly bread.

4 We thank thee for thy day, O Lord!

And here thy promised presence seek; Open thy hand with blessings stored, And give us manna for the week.

50. L. M. Butcher.

Christian Wors.h.i.+p.

1 Father of all! where shall we find A temple suited to thy praise?

To thee, the uncreated Mind, What earthly altar shall we raise?

2 We'll call a mult.i.tude around, And gladly seek the house of prayer; There thy salvation we have found, And still, O G.o.d, we'll seek it there.

3 From breast to breast the holy flame Shall kindle round the sacred place: At once we'll hymn our Father's name, At once we'll seek our Father's face.

4 There, heavenly Father, condescend To meet us with peculiar love; And when the hymns of earth shall end, We'll give thee n.o.bler hymns above.

51. L. M. Pope's Coll.

The Lord's Prayer.

1 Father! adored in worlds above, Thy glorious name be hallowed still; Thy kingdom come with power and love, And earth, like heaven, obey thy will.

2 Lord! make our daily wants thy care; Forgive the sins which we forsake: And, as we in thy kindness share, Let fellow-men of ours partake.

3 Evils beset us every hour; Thy kind protection we implore: Thine is the kingdom, thine the power; Be thine the glory evermore!

52. C. M. Montgomery.

Mutual Invitation.

1 Come, let us join our souls to G.o.d In everlasting bands, And seize the blessings he bestows With eager hearts and hands.

2 Come, let us to his temple haste, And seek his favor there, Before his footstool humbly bow, And offer fervent prayer.

3 Come, let us share, without delay, The blessings of his grace; Nor shall the years of distant life Their mem'ry e'er efface.

4 O, may our children ever haste To seek their fathers' G.o.d, Nor e'er forsake the happy path Their fathers' feet have trod.

53. C. M. Milton.

"The Lord G.o.d is a Sun and s.h.i.+eld." Ps. 84.

1 How lovely are thy dwellings fair, O Lord of hosts, how dear The pleasant tabernacles are Where thou dost dwell so near!

2 Happy, who in thy house reside, Where thee they ever praise, Happy, whose strength in thee doth bide, And in their hearts thy ways.

3 They pa.s.s through sorrow's thirsty vale, That dry and barren ground, As through a fruitful, wat'ry dale, Where springs and showers abound.

4 They journey on from strength to strength, With joy and gladsome cheer, Till all before our G.o.d at length In Zion do appear.

5 For G.o.d the Lord, both sun and s.h.i.+eld, Gives grace and glory bright; No good from them shall be withheld Whose ways are just and right.

54. L. M. Salisbury Co.

House of G.o.d.

1 Lo, G.o.d is here! Let us adore, And humbly bow before his face; Let all within us feel his power; Let all within us seek his grace.

2 Lo, G.o.d is here! Him, day and night United choirs of angels sing: To him, enthroned above all height, Heaven's host their n.o.blest homage bring.

3 Being of beings! may thy praise Thy courts with grateful fragrance fill: Still may we stand before thy face-- Still hear and do thy sovereign will.

55. L. M. New York Coll.

Sabbath Day.

1 We bless thee for this sacred day, Thou who hast every blessing given, Which sends the dreams of earth away, And yields a glimpse of opening heaven.