Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 10

3 My heart shall triumph in the Lord, And bless his works, and bless his word: Thy works of grace, how bright they shine, How deep thy counsels, how divine!

4 But I shall share a glorious part When grace hath well refined my heart, And, raised to holier courts above, I praise thee with a purer love.

5 Then shall I see, and hear, and know, All I desired or wished below; And every power find sweet employ In that eternal world of joy.

62. C. P. M. Merrick.

The Sabbath and the Earthly Temple.

1 The joyful morn, my G.o.d, is come, That calls me to thy sacred dome, Thy presence to adore: My feet the summons shall attend, With willing steps thy courts ascend And tread the hallowed floor.

2 With holy joy I hail the day, That warns my thirsting soul away; What transports fill my breast!

For, lo! my great Redeemer's power Unfolds the everlasting door, And leads me to his rest!

3 Hither, from earth's remotest end, Lo! the redeemed of G.o.d ascend, Their tribute hither bring; Here, crowned with everlasting joy, In hymns of praise their tongues employ, And hail the immortal King.

63. C. M. Watts.

Longing for the House of G.o.d.

1 Early, my G.o.d, without delay, I haste to seek thy face; My thirsty spirit faints away Without thy cheering grace.

2 So pilgrims on the scorching sand, Beneath a burning sky, Long for a cooling stream at hand; And they must drink, or die.

3 Not life itself, with all its joys, Can my best pa.s.sions move, Or raise so high my cheerful voice, As thy forgiving love.

4 Thus, till my last expiring day, I'll bless my G.o.d and King; Thus will I lift my hands to pray, And tune my lips to sing.

64. L. M. Heber.

The Worship of Earth and Heaven.

1 Hosanna! Lord, thine angels cry: Hosanna! Lord, we hear reply: Above, beneath us, and around, The dead and living swell the sound.

2 O Father! with protecting care Meet us in this, thy house of prayer; a.s.sembled in Messiah's name, Thy promised blessing here we claim.

3 But, chiefest, in our cleansed breast, Eternal! let thy Spirit rest; And make our secret soul to be A temple pure, and worthy thee.

65. L. M. Watts.

Watchfulness and Brotherly Reproof. Ps. 141.

1 My G.o.d, accept my early vows, Like morning incense, in thy house; And let my nightly worship rise Sweet as the evening sacrifice.

2 Watch o'er my lips, and guard them, Lord, From every rash and heedless word; Nor let my feet incline to tread The guilty path where sinners lead.

3 O may the righteous, when I stray, Smite and reprove my wandering way; Their gentle words, like ointment shed, Shall never bruise, but cheer, my head.

4 When I behold them prest with grief I'll cry to heaven for their relief; And by my warm pet.i.tions prove How much I prize their faithful love.

66. L. M. Watts.

The Pleasure of Public Worship. Ps. 84.

1 How pleasant, how divinely fair, O Lord of Hosts, thy dwellings are!

With long desire my spirit faints To meet the a.s.semblies of thy saints.

2 Blest are the souls who find a place Within the temple of thy grace; There they behold thy gentler rays, And seek thy face and learn thy praise.

3 Blest are the men whose hearts are set To find the way to Zion's gate; G.o.d is their Strength; and through the road They lean upon their Helper, G.o.d.

4 Cheerful they walk with growing strength, Till all shall meet in heaven at length; Till all before thy face appear, And join the n.o.bler worship there.

67. L. M. C. Robbins.

"Speak, Lord, for thy servant heareth."

1 While thus thy throne of grace we seek, O G.o.d, within our spirits speak!

For we will hear thy voice to-day, Nor turn our hardened hearts away.

2 Speak in thy gentlest tones of love, Till all our best affections move; We long to hear no meaner call, But feel that Thou art all in all.

3 To conscience speak thy quickening word, Till all its sense of sin is stirred: For we would leave no stain of guile, To cloud the radiance of thy smile.