XIII.-RECEPTION OF MEMBERS INTO

518

JE

THE CHURCH.

L. M.

ESUS, thy sovereign grace we bless, That crowns thy gospel with success : Subjecting rebels to thy throne,

And gathering to thy fold thine own.

2 Those who have now thy truth confest,
As their own faith, and hope, and rest,
We, in thy name, with joy embrace,
As fellow-heirs of heavenly grace.
3 As living members, may they share
The joys and griefs which others bear ;
And active in their stations prove,
In all the offices of love.

4 From all temptations them defend,
And keep them steadfast to the end;
Ever abiding in thy love,

Until they join the church above.

519

WHO

BATHURST.

L. M.

HO can describe the joys that rise
Through all the courts of paradise,

To see a prodigal return,

To see an heir of glory born?

2 With joy the Father doth approve
The fruit of his eternal love;

The Son with joy looks down and sees
The purchase of his agonies.
3 The Spirit takes delight to view
The holy soul He formed anew ;
And saints and angels join to sing
The growing empire of their King.

WATTS.

520

WHO

HO can forbear to sing,
Who can refuse to praise,
When Sion's high celestial King
His saving power displays?

2 When sinners at his feet,

By mercy conquered, fall;

S. M.

When grace, and truth, and justice meet,
And peace unites them all?

3 When heaven's expanding gates
Invite the pilgrims' feet;

And Jesus, at their entrance, waits
To place them on his seat?

4 Who can forbear to praise
Our high celestial King,

When sovereign, rich, redeeming grace,
Invites our tongues to sing?

SWAIN.

521

SAVIOUR, by whom the guilty live,
To thy great name we praises give,
For [those] whom now we gladly hail
Within thy church's hallow'd pale.

L. M.

2 Though once afar they loved to roam,
Kind Shepherd, Thou hast brought them home!
O may they henceforth faithful be,
Nor ever stray from peace and Thee !

3 Dwell in them by thy Spirit, Lord;
Strengthen and feed them by thy word;
Keep them till death; then bid them rise,
To join thy triumph in the skies.

'Tis good a newborn soul to view;
How doth its joy our own renew!

O would that all Christ's power might prove, And taste the sweetness of his love!

*Or him, or her.

W. L. A.

XIV. MISCELLANEOUS OCCASIONS.

1.-FOUNDING AND OPENING PLACES OF WORSHIP.

522

On the Laying the Foundation.

THIS stone to Thee in faith we lay,

THIS

L. M.

We build the temple, Lord, to Thee; Thine eye be open night and day

To guard this house and sanctuary.

2 Here, when thy people seek thy face,
And dying sinners pray to live,

Hear, Thou, in heaven, thy dwelling-place,
And when Thou hearest, O forgive!

3 Here, when thy messengers proclaim
The blessed gospel of thy Son,
Still by the power of his great name
Be mighty signs and wonders done.
4 Hosannah! to their heavenly king,

When children's voices raise that song;
Hosannah let their angels sing,

And heaven with earth the strain prolong.

5 But will indeed Jehovah deign

Here to abide no transient guest?

Here will the world's Redeemer reign,
And here the Holy Spirit rest?

6 That glory never hence depart !

Yet choose not, Lord, this house alone;
Thy kingdom come to every heart,
In every bosom fix thy throne.

Lo

7s.

Here an house of prayer and praise ;

Thou thy people's hearts prepare
Here to meet for praise and prayer.

2 Let the living here be fed

With thy word, the heavenly bread;
Here, with hope of glory bless'd,
May the troubled soul find rest.
3 Here to Thee a temple stand,
While the sea shall gird the land,
Here reveal thy mercy sure,
While the sun and moon endure.

4 Hallelujah!-earth and sky
To the joyful sound reply;
Hallelujah!--hence ascend

Prayer and praise till time shall end.

524

The same.

MONTGOMERY.*

C. M.

DEAR Shepherd of thy people, here

Thy presence now display;