HYMN 704.

The necessity of temples of worship for the Church militant. L. M.

1

WHEN to the exiled seer were given

Those rapt'rous views of highest heaven, All glorious though the visions were, Yet he beheld no temple there. 2 The new Jerusalem on high Hath one pervading sanctity; No sin to mourn, no grief to mar,God and the Lamb its temple are;3 But we who sojourn here below, As pilgrim-heirs of guilt and woe, Must seek a holy temple where Our scatter'd souls may blend in prayer. 4 0 thou, who o'er the cherubim Didst shine in glories veil'd and dim, With purer light our temple cheer, Unveil thy saving glory here.

HYMN 705.

The favour of the divine Architect implored at the laying of a foundation stone for a house of prayer. P. M. 1 T THOU, who hast in Zion laid

The true Foundation-stone,

And with those a cov'nant made,
Who build on that alone,-
Hear us, Architect divine,

Great Builder of thy church below,

Now upon thy servants shine,

Who seek thy praise to show.

2 Earth is thine; her thousand hills
Thy mighty hand sustains;
Heaven thy awful presence fills;
O'er all thy glory reigns;
Yet the place for thee prepared,
By regal David's favour'd son,

Thy peculiar blessing shared,
And stood thy chosen throne.
3 We, like Jesse's son, would raise
A temple to the Lord,

Sound throughout its courts his praise,
His saving name record;
Dedicate a house to him

Who once, in mortal weakness shrined,
Sorrow'd, suffer'd, to redeem,

To rescue, all mankind.

4 Gracious God, upon us send
The consecrating flame;
Now in majesty descend;

We ask in Jesus' name:
Thine approval, Saviour, give,

While gratefully we lay this stone;
Us into thy hands receive;

Our temple make thy throne.
HYMN 706.

L. 443. Altered. Prayer that a dedicated place of worship may be favoured with the saving and reigning presence of the Lord. L. M.

1

ND will the great eternal God

AND

On earth establish his abode? And will he, from his radiant throne, Accept our temples for his own? 2 These walls we to thy honour raise; Long may they echo with thy praise; And thou, descending, fill the place With choicest tokens of thy grace. 3 Here let the great Redeemer reign, With all the graces of his train; While power divine his word attends, To conquer foes, and cheer his friends;4 And in the great decisive day, When God the nations shall survey,

470

May it before the world appear
That crowds were born to glory here.
HYMN 707.

Prayer for Jehovah's protection of a house of prayer, and his blessing on the people by whom it has been raised. L. M. EHOVAH, here thy grace display,

1 JEHO

While we our hearts and voices raise;
This house defend by night and day;
Approve thy people's prayers and praise.
2 Within these walls let heavenly peace
And holy love and concord dwell;
Here give the burden'd conscience ease,
And here the wounded spirit heal.
3 But will, indeed, Jehovah deign

Here to abide, no transient guest?
Here will our great Redeemer reign,
And here the Holy Spirit rest?
4 Ne'er let thy glory hence depart;

Yet choose not, Lord, this shrine alone;
Thy spirit dwell in every heart,—

In every bosom fix thy throne.
HYMN 707 a.

L. 452. Altered. A place of worship dedicated to God with thanks and prayer. 4 lines 8's, and 2-6's.

1

0

THOU whose grandeur fills the skies,
Beyond where human thought can rise,
Or angel-minds can soar,-

Before thy glorious throne we bow;
Almighty Lord, assist us now

Thy goodness to adore.

2 We thank thee for thy truth and grace,
For helping us to rear this place,
Where we on thee may call;
Throughout creation thee we see,—
Thy Wisdom, Power, and Majesty,-
Our Light, our Life, our All.

3 Accept our humble tribute, Lord,
And feed us richly with thy word,
And all our wants supply:

This house, these hearts, to thee we give;
O may we to thy glory live,
And in thy favour die.

4 May faithful ministers of thine,
Endued with power and love divine,
Continue to proclaim

The riches of thy heavenly grace,
To multitudes within this place,
And wand'ring souls reclaim.

HYMN 708.

A house reared to the Lord, and his saving and abiding
presence implored on behalf of its attendants. C. M.
1 GOD, though countless worlds of light
Thy power and glory show,-

Though round thy throne, above all height,
Celestial spirits glow;-

2 Yet, Lord, where'er thy saints apart
Are met for praise and prayer,-
Wherever sighs a contrite heart,
Thou, gracious God, art there.
3 With grateful joy thy children rear
This temple, Lord, to thee;
Long may they sing thy praises here,
And here thy beauty see.

4 Here, Saviour, deign thy saints to meet,— With peace their hearts to fill,

And here, like Sharon's odours sweet,
May grace divine distil.

5 Here may thy truth fresh triumphs win; Eternal Spirit, here,

In many a heart now dead in sin,
A living temple rear.

HYMN 709.

Prayer that a place of worship may be God's house and the gate of heaven. L. M.

1 NOT heaven's wide range of hallow'd
Jehovah's presence can confine;
Nor angels' claims restrain his grace,
Whose glories through creation shine.
2 It beam'd on Eden's guilty days,

space

And traced redemption's wondrous plan; From Calvary, in brightest rays,

It glow'd to guide benighted man.

3 Its sacred shrine it fixes where

But two or three are met to raise
Their holy hands in humble prayer,
Or tune their hearts to grateful praise.
4 Be this, O Lord, that honour'd place,—
The house of God, the gate of heaven,—
And may the fulness of thy grace

To all who here shall meet be given. 5 And hence, in spirit, may we soar

To courts where seraphim all bend;
With awe like theirs, on earth adore,
Till with their anthems ours shall blend.

HYMN 710.

A house of prayer an humble and standing offering to the praise of him whose word built the world. L. M.

1 THE perfect world, by Adam trod,

Was the first temple built by God;

His fiat laid the corner stone;

He spake, and, lo! the work was done.
2 He hung its starry roof on high,
The broad expanse of azure sky;

He spread its pavement, green and bright,
And curtain'd it with morning light.