For God's Blessing in the Sanctuary.
WESTON FAVEL. C. M.
WITH holy reverence and joy
We to God's house repair;
Before his footstool meekly bow,
And the humble prayer.
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Arise, O Lord, and enter now
Thy constant place of rest;
Not only with thy name be this,
But with thy presence blest.
Clothe thou thy priests with righteousness,
Make thou thy saints rejoice;
And for thy boundless mercy's sake,
Regard thy suppliants' voice.
For Sion, God's most holy seat,
In glory doth excel :
This is the favor'd place of rest,
Where he delights to dwell.
PSALM CXXXIII.
Brotherly Love.
SURREY. P. M.
O BLEST éstate! blest from above!
When brethren join in mutual love :
'Tis like the precious odours shed
On Aaron's consecrated head;
Descending from his beard and breast
In holy fragrance o'er his vest.
"Tis like the pearls of dew that drop
On Hermon's ever-verdant top;
Or such as heav'nly clouds distil
O'er happy Sion's sacred hill:
For God hath there his favor given,
And there his favor makes a heaven.
O BLESS the Lord, all ye who stand
Before his awful throne;
Acknowledge his almighty hand,
For he is God alone.
To him, ye servants of the Lord,
Your hands and voices raise;
Worthy by all to be ador'd
With everlasting praise.
Thou, Lord of heav'n and earth, send down A blessing from above:
With grace and truth thy servants crown, And seal them with thy love.
PSALM CXXXV.
Adoration of God's Majesty and Power.
O PRAISE the Lord with one consent,
And magnify his name;
Let all the servants of our God.
His glorious praise proclaim.
Praise him all ye, that in his house
Attend with constant care;
Who to his courts with holy joy,
And humble zeal repair.
The Lord with unresisted might
Performs his sov'reign will;
And all the powers of heaven and earth
His wise designs fulfil.
Their sense of his unbounded love
Let all his saints proclaim;
Adore him for his mighty works,
And magnify his name.
Praise for God's never-failing Mercies.
ST. PETER. P. M.
LET us all with thankful mind,
Praise the Lord, for he is kind;
Let us sound his name abroad,
For of gods he is the God:
And his mercies shall endure,
Ever faithful, ever sure.
He his mansion rears on high,
Far from gaze of mortal eye;
He by wisdom did create
Earth, with heaven's glorious state: And, &c.
All things living he doth feed,
And in love supplies their need;
Watches with a pitying eye,
Saves in all their misery: For his, &c,
Humble saints he'll ever bless,
In this lonely wilderness;
Therefore to Jehovah raise
Songs of never-ceasing praise: For his, &c. PSALM CXXXVII,
Devoted Love to the Church in her Affliction.
WHEN Israel sat by Babel's stream,
Their harps were on the willows hung;
Of Sion was their mournful dream,
Sad were their tears, their harps unstrung:
With taunting scorn their haughty foes
Taught them what fate to slaves belongs;
Proud in their power, they mock'd their woes,
And ask'd for Sion's sacred songs.
For Sion's songs? ah thought abhorr'd !
How, Salem, could they sing of thee;
Or tell the praises of the Lord,
While in their sad captivity?
O Sion! to remember thee
Shall ever be thy sons' employ
Thy woes their heaviest grief shall be,
Thy happiness their highest joy.
Grateful Devotion.
BROMSGROVE. C. M.
WITH my whole heart, my God and King,
Thy praise I will proclaim;
Before the world with joy I'll sing,
And bless thy holy name.
I'll worship at thy sacred seat,
And, with thy love inspir'd,
The praises of thy truth repeat,
O'er all thy works admir'd.
Thou graciously inclin'dst thine ear,
When I to thee did cry;
And, when my soul was prest with fear,
Didst inward strength supply.
The Lord, whose mercies ever last,
Shall keep me free from ill;
And, mindful of his favors past,
Shall his own work fulfil.
PSALM CXXXIX.
The Omniscience of God.
ROCKINGHAM.
THOU, Lord, by strictest search hast known
My rising up, and lying down :
Each secret thought is known to thee,
Known, long before conceiv'd by me.
Surrounded by thy power I stand;
On ev'ry side I feel thy hand:
O skill, for human reach too high!
Too dazzling bright for mortal eye!
Could I so vain, so foolish be,
To think of e'er escaping thee!
Where, Lord, could I thine influence shun?
Or whither from thy presence run?
Then search, O Lord, my thoughts and heart,
If evil lurks in any part;
Correct it, lest I go astray,
And guide me in thy perfect way.
MY God, when dangers press me round,
And safety but in thee is found,
O leave me not alone:
Preserve my soul from ev'ry snare,
Grant me thine aid, and let my prayer
Reach thine eternal throne.
Thou art my God, my strength, my stay,
Who in temptation's evil day
Hast shielded me from harm:
Now to the malice of my foes,
Lord, the resistless force oppose
Of thine almighty arm.
I know that God his church will keep,
Will bid the mourner cease to weep,
And plead the poor man's cause:
When wrath the wicked shall destroy,
They shall abide in peace and joy
Who love thy righteous laws.
For Purity of Thought and Heart.
FRAMLINGHAM. P. M.
LORD, accept my early vows,
Like fresh incense in thy house;
Let my nightly worship rise,
Sweet as evening sacrifice.
Watch my lips, and guard them, Lord,
Check the rash and idle word;
Turn my feet, whene'er I stray,
Lead me in the perfect way.
Search and try my ev'ry thought,
Though my heart accuse me not:
Walking in a false disguise,
Who can meet thy searching eyes?
Teach me, Lord, thy holy will,
Lead me to thy heav'nly hill;
Let the Spirit of thy love
Guide me to thy courts above.
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