GOD of the sabbath! hear our vows,
On this thy day, in this thine house;
And own, as grateful sacrifice,
The songs which in thy churches rise.
Thine earthly sabbaths, LORD! we love;
But there's a nobler rest above;
Thy servants to that rest aspire,
With cheerful hope and strong desire.
There languor shall no more oppress,
The heart shall feel no more distress!
No sighs shall mingle with the songs,
That dwell upon immortal tongues.
No anxious cares shall there annoy ;
No conscious guilt disturb our joy ;
But ev'ry doubt and fear shall cease,
And perfect love give perfect peace.
I'LL bless JEHOVAH's glorious name,
Whose goodness heav'n and earth proclaim,
With ev'ry morning light;
And, at the close of ev'ry day,
To him my cheerful homage pay,
Who guards me through the night.
Then in his churches to appear,
And pay my humble worship there,
Shall be my sweet employ :
The day that saw MESSIAH rise,
Shall dawn on my delighted eyes
With ev'ry sacred joy.
With grateful sorrow in my breast,
I'll celebrate the dying feast
Of my departing LORD;
And while his perfect love I view,
His bright example I'll
GREAT GOD! we jointly wish to sing
The joys that from thy presence spring;
To spend one day with thee on earth,
Exceeds a thousand days of mirth.
Thou art our sun, thou mak'st our day; Thou art our shield, thou guard'st our way From sickness, sorrow, death, and sin, From foes without, and foes within.
From thee doth ev'ry blessing flow,
Both bliss and honour thou'lt bestow;
To him, who what is right pursues,
No real good wilt thou refuse.
O GOD our king! whose sovereign sway,
The glorious hosts of heav'n obey,
All evils, at thy bidding, flee:
Blest is the man who trusts in thee.
PUBLIC AND SOCIAL WORSHIP.
How pleasant, how divinely fair,
O LORD of hosts! thy dwellings are.
Within thy sanctuary here,
Most willingly do we appear.
Happy are those, whose purpose stands
To keep the way of thy commands:
Thou art their guide; and thro' their road,
They trust unto their maker, GOD.
O GOD, our king! why should we be
Neglectful of our joys, and thee?
Here we behold thy gentler rays,
Inquire thy will, and learn to praise :
O! may we walk with growing strength;
Till we shall meet in heav'n at length;
Till all before thy throne appear,
And join in nobler worship there.
FATHER of men! thy care we bless, Which crowns our families with peace: From thee we sprang, and by thy hand, From day to day, are still sustain'd.
To thee, most worthy to be prais'd,
Let all our social prayers be rais'd;
Who, LORD of heav'n! scorn'st not to hear
Thy servants in the act of prayer.
To thee let each united house,
Morning and night, present its vows :
Our children there, and servants too,
Be taught thy precepts, and thy love.
O! may each future age proclaim
The honours of thy glorious name;
While, pleas'd and thankful, we remove
To join thy family above.
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