For a blessing in the Sanctuary. L. M.
(Psalm cxxxii. 7-10.)
1 GOD in His temple let us meet;
Low on our knees before Him bend;
Here hath He fix'd His mercy-seat;
Here, on His worship, we attend.
2 Arise into Thy resting-place,
Thou and Thy ark of strength, O Lord!
Shine through the veil, we seek Thy face;
Speak, for we hearken to Thy word.
3 With righteousness Thy priests array:
Joyful Thy chosen people be:
Let those who teach, and hear, and pray,
Let all be holiness to Thee.
For the profitable use of Scripture. C. M.
(Col. iii. 16.)
1 BEFORE Thy mercy-seat, O Lord,
Behold Thy servants stand,
To ask the knowledge of thy word,
The guidance of Thy hand.
2 Let Thy eternal truths, we pray,
Dwell richly in each heart;
That from the safe and narrow way
We never may depart.
3 Lord, from Thy word remove the seal;
Unfold its hidden store;
And teach us as we read to feel
Its value more and more.
4 Help us to see a Saviour's love
Shining in every page:
And let the thoughts of joy above
Our inmost souls engage.
5 Thus while Thy word our footsteps guides,
O may we safely go
To those fair realms where love provides
A final rest from woe.
For a Prayerful spirit. (Prov. xvi. 1.) C. M.
1 LORD, teach us how to pray aright,
With reverence and with fear;
Though dust and ashes in Thy sight,
We may, we must draw near:
2 God of all grace, we come to Thee,
With broken, contrite hearts;-
Give, what Thine eyes delight to see,"
Truth in the inward parts:
3 Give deep humility;-the sense
Of godly sorrow give:
A strong desiring confidence
To see Thy face and live ;—
4 Faith in the holy sacrifice,
That can for sin atone!
To cast our hopes and fix our eyes
On Christ-and Him alone :-
5 Patience to watch, and wait, and weep,
Though mercy long delay;
Courage our fainting souls to keep,
And trust Thee though Thou slay:
6 Give these, and then Thy will be done;
Thus strengthen'd with all might,
We, through Thy Spirit, and Thy Son,
Shall pray, and pray aright.
.The infinite power of God. (Prov. xv. 3.) 1st P.M. 1 THE eye of the Lord is in every place;
Resistless His power! unbounded His grace!
He is not a stranger to aught that we love,
Nor is there a danger He could not remove.
2 Have mercy, O God! our Father on high!
And teach us to live as under Thine eye;
We pray for Thy blessing, thro' Jesus our Lord,
To walk as possessing Thy help and Thy word.
8 It is not our skill, nor might of our arm,
Can guide us to heav'n or shield us from harm,
Bless Thou each endeavour, each holy design!
And glory for ever, O Lord, shall be Thine!
36. Exhortation to Praise. (Deut. vi. 4, 5.) S. M.
1 STAND up and bless the Lord,
Ye people of His choice;
O let us praise our gracious God,
With heart, and soul, and voice.
2 Though high above all praise,
Above all blessing high,—
Who would not fear his holy name,
And laud and magnify?
3 Oh for the living flame,
From His own altar brought,
To touch our lips, inspire our minds,
And wing to heav'n each thought!
God is our strength and song,
And His salvation ours;
Then be His love in Christ proclaim'd
With all our ransom'd pow'rs.
Arise, and bless the Lord;
The Lord your God adore;
Arise, and bless His glorious name
Henceforth, for evermore.
37. Love to the Sanctuary. (Psalm xlviii.) S. M.
1 GREAT is the Lord our God,
And let his praise be great:
He makes His churches His abode,
His most delightful seat.
2 These temples of His grace,
How beautiful they stand!
The honours of our native place,
And bulwarks of our land.
3 In ev'ry new distress
We'll to His house repair;
We'll think upon His wond'rous grace,
And seek deliv'rance there.
4 The God whose love we know
Will guide us till we die;
Will be our God while here below,
And through eternity.
For Protection. (Psalm iv. 8.) L. M.
1 GLORY to Thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep me, O keep me! King of kings,
Under Thine own almighty wings!
2 Forgive me, Lord, for Thy dear Son,
The ills that I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and Thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3 Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;
Teach me to die, that so I may
Rise glorious at the judgment day.
4 O may my soul on Thee repose,
And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
Sleep, that shall me more vig'rous make
To serve my God when I awake.
5 When in the night I sleepless lie,
My soul with heavenly thoughts supply:
Let no ill dreams disturb my rest,
No powers of darkness me molest.
6 Lord, let my soul for ever share
The bliss of thy paternal care;
"Tis heaven on earth, 'tis heaven above,
To see Thy face, to sing Thy love!
39. For the Lord's Day. (Exod. xxix. 39.) 5th P.M.
1 SOON shall the evening star, with silver ray,
Shed its mild lustre on this sacred day;
Resume we then, ere sleep and silence reign,
The rites that holiness and heav'n ordain.
2 Still let each awful truth our thoughts engage,
That shines reveal'd on inspiration's page;
Nor let those hours in vanity be pass'd,
Which all who lavish shall lament at last.
3 O God our Saviour, in our hearts abide;
Thy blood redeem'd us, and Thy precepts guide;
In life our Guardian, and in death our Friend,
Glory supreme be Thine till time shall end.
Confidence in God. (Psalm xci.) L. M.
1 HE that hath made his refuge God,
Shall find a most secure abode;
Shall walk all day beneath His shade,
And there at night shall rest his head.
2 Thrice happy man! thy Maker's care
Shall keep thee from the fowler's snare;
As when a hen protects her brood.
From birds of prey that seek their blood.
3 What, though a thousand at thy side,
At thy right hand ten thousand died?
Thy God His chosen people saves
Among the dead, amidst the graves.
4 But if the fire, or plague, or sword,
Receive commission from the Lord
To strike His saints among the rest,
Their very pains and deaths are blest.
5 The sword, the pestilence, or fire,
Shall but fulfil their best desire;
From sins and sorrows set them free,
And bring Thy children, Lord, to Thee.
41. For Acceptance with God. (Psalm cxli.) L. M.
1 LORD, let my prayer like incense rise; And when I lift my hands to Thee,
As on the evening sacrifice,
Look down from heav'n, well-pleased, on me. 2 Set Thou a watch to keep my tongue; Let not my heart to sin incline;
Save me from those who practice wrong,
And make Thy pleasure ever mine.
3 Our eyes are unto Thee, O Lord;
Behold us humbled in the dust;
Thy saving health and strength afford;
Leave not our souls; in Thee we trust.
4 Redeem us, Lord, from all the snares,
With which the world surrounds our feet;
Its riches, vanities, and cares,
Its love, its hatred, its deceit.
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