1 LORD of the worlds above,
How pleasant and how fair
The dwellings of thy love,
Thine earthly temples, are!
To thine abode my heart aspires,
With warm desires to see my God.
2 O happy souls that pray
Where God appoints to hear!
O happy men that pay
Their constant service there!
They praise thee still; and happy they
Who love the way to Zion's hill.
3 They go from strength to strength, Throughout these mortal years, Till each arrives at length,
Till each in heaven appears:
O glorious seat, when God, our King, Shall thither bring our willing feet!
1 FORTH from the dark and stormy sky, Lord, to thine altar's shade we fly; Forth from the world, its hope and fear, Father, we seek thy shelter here: Weary and weak, thy grace we pray; Turn not, O Lord, thy guests away.
2 Long have we roamed in want and pain;
Long have we sought thy rest in vain;
Wildered in doubt, in darkness lost,
Long have our souls been tempest-tost:
Low at thy feet our sins we lay;
Turn not, O Lord, thy guests away.
1 FAR from mortal cares retreating,
Sordid hopes and fond desires,
Here, our willing footsteps meeting,
Every heart to heaven aspires.
From the Fount of glory beaming,
Light celestial cheers our eyes;
Mercy from above proclaiming,
Peace and pardon from the skies.
2 Every stain of guilt abhorring,
Firm and bold in virtue's cause,
Still thy providence adoring,
Faithful subjects to thy laws,
Lord! with favor still attend us,
Bless us with thy wondrous love;
Thou, our sun and shield, defend us;
All our hope is from above.
1 O FATHER! though the anxious fear
May cloud to-morrow's way,
No fear nor doubt shall enter here,·
All shall be thine to-day.
2 We will not bring divided hearts
To worship at thy shrine;
But each unworthy thought departs,
And leaves this temple thine.
1 LORD, in this sacred hour
Within thy courts we bend,
And bless thy love, and own thy power,
Our Father and our Friend.
2 But thou art not alone
In courts by mortals trod;
Nor only is the day thine own
When man draws near to God.
3 Thy temple is the arch
Of yon unmeasured sky;
Thy Sabbath, the stupendous march
Öf grand eternity.
4 Lord, may that holier day
Dawn on thy servants' sight;
And purer worship may we pay
In heaven's unclouded light.
1 WITH sacred joy we lift our eyes
To those bright realms above,-
That glorious temple in the skies
Where dwells eternal love.
2 Before the awful throne we bow
Of heaven's Almighty King:
Here we present the solemn vow,
And hymns of praise we sing.
3 Thee we adore, and, Lord, to thee
Our filial duty pay;
Thy service, unconstrained and free,
Conducts to endless day.
4 While in thy house of prayer we kneel,
With trust and holy fear,
Thy mercy and thy truth reveal,
And lend a gracious ear.
1 LORD, what offering shall we bring,
At thine altars when we bow?
Hearts, the pure unsullied spring,
Whence the kind affections flow;
Soft compassion's feeling soul,
By the melting eye expressed;
Sympathy, at whose control
Sorrow leaves the wounded breast;
2 Willing hands to lead the blind,
Bind the wounded, feed the poor;
Love, embracing all our kind;
Charity, with liberal store:
Teach us, O thou Heavenly King,
Thus to show our grateful mind,
Thus the accepted offering bring,
Love to thee and all mankind.
1 O, NOT alone with outward sign
Of fear, or voice from heaven,
The message of a truth divine,
The call of God, is given;
Awakening in the human heart
Love for the true and right,
Zeal for the Christian's better part,
Strength for the Christian's fight.
2 Though heralded by naught of fear,
Or outward sign or show;
Though only to the inward ear
It whisper soft and low;
Though dropping as the manna fell,
Unseen, yet from above,
Holy and gentle, heed it well:
The call to truth and love.
1 "LET there be light!"- When from on high,
O God, that first commandment came,
Forth leaped the sun; and earth and sky
Lay in his light and felt his flame.
And truth, a darkling world to bless, Came with thy word, when on our race Broke forth the Sun of Righteousness.
|