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, 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 peculiar blessing shared, Sound throughout its courts his praise, Who once, in mortal weakness shrined, To rescue, all mankind. 4 Gracious God, upon us send We ask in Jesus' name: While gratefully we lay this stone; Our temple make thy throne. 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 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; Here to abide, no transient guest? Yet choose not, Lord, this shrine alone; In every bosom fix thy throne. 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, Before thy glorious throne we bow; Thy goodness to adore. 2 We thank thee for thy truth and grace, 3 Accept our humble tribute, Lord, This house, these hearts, to thee we give; 4 May faithful ministers of thine, The riches of thy heavenly grace, HYMN 708. A house reared to the Lord, and his saving and abiding Though round thy throne, above all height, 2 Yet, Lord, where'er thy saints apart 4 Here, Saviour, deign thy saints to meet,— With peace their hearts to fill, And here, like Sharon's odours sweet, 5 Here may thy truth fresh triumphs win; Eternal Spirit, here, In many a heart now dead in sin, 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 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 To all who here shall meet be given. 5 And hence, in spirit, may we soar To courts where seraphim all bend; 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. He spread its pavement, green and bright, |