Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 108

With salvation's walls surrounded, Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.

2 See! the streams of living waters, Springing from eternal love, Well supply thy sons and daughters, And all fear of want remove.

Who can faint while such a river Ever flows their thirst t' a.s.suage?

Grace, which, like the Lord the giver, Never fails from age to age.

3 Round each habitation hovering, See the cloud and fire appear!

For a glory and a covering, Showing that the Lord is near.

Fading is the worldling's pleasure, All his boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasure None but Zion's children know.

654. S. M. Watts.

Safety of the Church.

1 How honored is the place Where we adoring stand!-- Zion, the glory of the earth, And beauty of the land.

2 Bulwarks of grace defend The city where we dwell, While walls, of strong salvation made, Defy th' a.s.saults of h.e.l.l.

3 Lift up th' eternal gates; The doors wide open fling; Enter, ye nations that obey The statutes of your King.

4 Here taste unmingled joys, And live in perfect peace, You that have known Jehovah's name, And ventured on his grace.

5 Trust in the Lord, ye saints, And banish all your fears; Strength in the Lord Jehovah dwells, Eternal as his years.

655. C. M. Anonymous.

The Jewish and the Christian Zion. Ps. 48.

1 With stately towers and bulwarks strong, Unrivalled and alone, Loved theme of many a sacred song, G.o.d's holy city shone.

2 Thus fair was Zion's chosen seat, The glory of all lands; Yet fairer, and in strength complete, The Christian temple stands.

3 The faithful of each clime and age This glorious church compose; Built on a rock, with idle rage The threatening tempest blows.

4 In vain may hostile bands alarm, For G.o.d is her defence; How weak, how powerless is each arm, Against Omnipotence!

656. S. M. Watts.

Gospel Order.

1 Far as thy name is known The world declares thy praise; Thy saints, O Lord, before thy throne, Their songs of honor raise.

2 Let strangers walk around The city where we dwell, Survey with care thine holy ground, And mark the building well,--

3 The order of thy house, The worship of thy court, The cheerful songs, the solemn vows, And make a fair report.

4 How decent and how wise!

How glorious to behold!

Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes, And rites adorned with gold.

5 The G.o.d we worship now Will guide us till we die,-- Will be our G.o.d while here below, And ours above the sky.

657. S. M. Dwight.

Attachment to the Church.

1 I love thy church, O G.o.d; Her walls before thee stand, Dear as the apple of thine eye, And graven on thy hand.

2 For her my tears shall fall; For her my prayers ascend; To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.

3 Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.

4 Father and Friend divine, Our Saviour and our King, Thy hand, from every snare and foe, Shall great deliverance bring.

5 Sure as thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven.

658. C. M. S. F. Smith.

Christian Fellowship.

1 Planted in Christ, the living vine, This day with one accord, Ourselves, with humble faith and joy, We yield to thee, O Lord.

2 Joined in one body may we be: One inward life partake; One be our heart; one heavenly hope In every bosom wake.

3 In prayer, in effort, tears, and toils, One Wisdom be our guide; Taught by one Spirit from above, In thee may we abide.

4 Around this feeble, trusting band Thy sheltering pinions spread, Nor let the storms of trial beat Too fiercely on our head.

5 Then, when, among the saints in light, Our joyful spirits shine, Shall anthems of immortal praise, O Lamb of G.o.d, be thine.