Book of Hymns for Public and Private Devotion Part 81

480. 6 & 4s. M. Anonymous.

Invocation.

1 Come, Thou almighty King!

Help us Thy name to sing, Help us to praise!

Father all-glorious, O'er all victorious, Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days!

2 Come, Thou eternal Word, By heaven and earth adored, Our prayer attend!

Come and this people bless; Give to Thy truth success; Spirit of Holiness, On us descend!

3 Come, holy Comforter, Thy sacred witness bear In this glad hour!

Thou who almighty art, Rule now in every heart, Never from us depart, Spirit of Power!

481. C. M. Orig. Hymns.

The Hour of Prayer.

1 Earth's busy sounds and ceaseless din Wake not this morning air!

A holy calm should welcome in This solemn hour of prayer.

2 Now peace, be still, unhallowed care, And hushed within the breast!

A holy joy should welcome there This happy day of rest.

3 Each better thought the spirit knows, This hour, the spirit fill!

And Thou, from whom its being flows, O, teach it all Thy will!

4 Then shall this day, which G.o.d hath blest, Hallow life's every hour, And bear us to our better rest, Eternal, perfect, sure.

482. C. M. Alford.

Sincere Worship.

1 O Thou, who hast Thy servants taught That not by words alone, But by the fruits of holiness, The life of G.o.d is shown;

2 While in Thy house of prayer we meet, And call Thee G.o.d and Lord, Give us a heart to follow Thee, Obedient to Thy word!

3 When we our voices lift in praise, Give Thou us grace to bring An offering of unfeigned thanks, And with the spirit sing.

4 And in the dangerous path of life Uphold us as we go; That with our lips and in our lives Thy glory we may show.

483. 8 & 7s. M. Anonymous.

Come, Holy Spirit!

1 Holy Spirit, source of gladness, Shine amid the clouds of night; O'er our weariness and sadness Breathe Thy life, and shed Thy light!

Send us Thine illumination, Banish all our fears at length, Rest upon this congregation, Spirit of unfailing Strength!

2 Let that love, which knows no measure, Now in quickening showers descend, Bringing us the richest treasure Man can wish or G.o.d can send; Hear our earnest supplication, Every struggling heart release, Rest upon this congregation, Spirit of eternal Peace!

484. L. M. Mrs. Gilman.

The Day of Rest.

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.

2 Rich day of holy, thoughtful rest, We would improve the calm repose; And, in G.o.d's service truly blest, Forget the world, its joys and woes.

3 Lord! may Thy truth, upon the heart, Now fall and dwell as heavenly dew, And flowers of grace in freshness start Where once the weeds of error grew.

4 May prayer now lift her sacred wings, Contented with that aim alone Which bears her to the King of kings, And rests her at his sheltering throne.

485. 10 & 6s. M. Anonymous.

The Sabbath.

1 Thou givest Thy Sabbath, Lord; the din is stilled Of man's unquiet care; A sacred calm, with Thy deep presence filled, Breathes through the silent air.

2 O leave us not, through long and darkened hours, In night of woe and sin, But shed Thy Sabbath with its radiant powers Upon the world within.

3 Purge from our hearts the stains so deep and foul, Of wrath and pride and care; Send Thine own holy calm upon the soul, And bid it settle there.

4 Banish this craving self that still has sought Lord of the soul to be; Teach us to turn to fellow-men our thought; Teach us to turn to Thee!

5 Teach us to love Thy creatures great and small To live as in Thine eye; Thou who hast freely given Thy love to all;-- Thou who to all art nigh!