2 Lord! may we still remember thee,
And more in knowledge grow;
Oh! may we more of glory see,
While waiting here below.
3 On this blest day, a brighter scene
Of glory was displayed,
By God, th' eternal word, than when
This universe was made.
4 He rises, who our souls hath bought
With blood, and grief, and pain:
'Twas great-to speak the world from nought,-
'T was greater-to redeem.
1 THIS day the Lord hath called his own;-
Oh! let us then his praise declare,
Fix our desires on him alone,
And seek his face, with fervent prayer.
2 Lord in thy love, would we rejoice,
That bids the burdened soul be free;
And, with united heart and voice,
Devote these sacred hours to thee.
3 Now let the world's delusive things
No more our groveling thoughts employ,
But faith be taught to stretch her wings,
In search of heaven's unfailing joy.
4 Oh! let these earthly Sabbaths, Lord!
Be to our lasting welfare blest;
The purest comfort here afford,
And fit us for eternal rest.
The Sabbath, a holy Rest.
1 AGAIN the day returns of holy rest,
Which, when he made the world, Jehovah blest;
When, like his own, he bade our labours cease,
And all be piety, and all be peace.
2 Let us devote this consecrated day
To learn his will, and all we learn obey;
So shall he hear when fervently we raise
Our supplications, and our songs of praise.
3 Father in heaven! in whom our hopes confide, Whose power defends us, and whose precepts guide; In life our guardian, and in death our friend,Glory supreme be thine, till time shall end.
The Sacrifice of the Heart.
1 WHEN, as returns this solemn day,
Man comes to meet his God,
What rites-what honors shall he pay?
How spread his praise abroad?
2 From marble-domes and gilded spires
Shall clouds of incense rise?
And gems, and gold, and garlands deck
The costly sacrifice?
3 Vain, sinful man!-creation's Lord
Thine offerings well may spare;
But give thy heart-and thou shalt find,
That God will hear thy prayer.
7s and 6s.
Sabbath-Contemplations.
1 LORD of the vast creation,
Support of worlds unknown,
Desire of every nation !—
Behold us at thy throne;
We come for mercy crying,
Through thine atoning blood;
And on thy grace relying,
We seek each promised good.
2 We bless the condescension
That brought thee down to earth;
Of which the seers made mention,
Who prophesied thy birth:
We celebrate the glory,
That marked thy wondrous way,
And own the joyful story,
That claims this hallowed day.
3 Oh! when shall thy salvation
Be known through every land,
And men, in every station,
Obey thy great command?
In God's own Son believing,
From sin may they be free;
And gospel-grace receiving,
Find life and peace in thee.
The Close of the Sabbath.
1 ANOTHER day has passed along,
And we are nearer to the tomb,—
Nearer to join the heavenly song,
Or hear the last eternal doom.
2 Sweet is the light of Sabbath-eve,
And soft the sunbeams lingering there: For these blest hours, the world I leave, Wafted on wings of faith and prayer. 3 The time how lovely and how still;
Peace shines and smiles on all below,The plain, the stream, the wood, the hill,— All fair with evening's setting glow.
4 Season of rest! the tranquil soul
Feels the sweet calm, and melts to love,-
And while these sacred moments roll,
Faith sees a smiling heaven above.
5 Nor will our days of toil be long,
Our pilgrimage will soon be trod;
And we shall join the ceaseless song,-
The endless Sabbath of our God.
Evening of the Lord's Day.
1 FREQUENT the day of God returns,
To shed its quickening beams;
And yet how slow devotion burns!
How languid are its flames!
2 Accept our faint attempts to love,
Our frailties, Lord! forgive;
We would be like thy saints above,
And praise thee while we live.
3 Increase, O Lord! our faith and hope,
And fit us to ascend,
Where the assembly ne'er breaks up,
The Sabbath ne'er shall end :-
4 Where we shall breathe in heavenly air,
With heavenly lustre shine,
Before the throne of God appear,
And feast on love divine:—
5 Where we, in high seraphic strains,
Shall all our powers employ;
Delighted range th' ethereal plains,
And take our fill of joy.
1 WHEN, O dear Jesus! when shall I
Behold thee all-serene;
Blest in perpetual Sabbath-day,
Without a veil between?
2 Assist me while I wander here,
Amidst a world of cares;
Incline my heart to pray with love,
And then accept my prayers.
3 Spare me, my God! Oh! spare the soul
That gives itself to thee;
Take all that I possess below,
And give thyself to me.
4 Thy Spirit, O my Father! give
To be my guide and friend,
To light my path to ceaseless joys-
Where Sabbaths never end.
1 HOW charming is the place,
Where my Redeemer-God
Unveils the glories of his face,
And sheds his love abroad!
2 Not the fair palaces,
To which the great resort,
Are once to be compared with this,
Where Jesus holds his court.
3 Here, on the mercy-seat,
With radiant glory crowned,
Our joyful eyes behold thee sit,
And smile on all around.
4 To thee, our prayers and cries
Each humble soul presents:
Oh! listen to our broken sighs,
And grant us all our wants.
5 Give us, O Lord! a place,
Within thy blest abode,
Among the children of thy grace,—
The servants of our God.
1 HOW honorable is the place,
Where we adoring stand;
Zion!-the glory of the earth,
And beauty of the land.
2 Bulwarks of mighty grace defend
The city where we dwell;
The walls, of strong salvation made,
Defy th' assaults of hell.
3 Lift up the everlasting gates,
The doors wide open fling;
Enter, ye nations that obey
The statutes of our king!
4 Here shall you taste unmingled joys,
And live in perfect peace,—
You that have known Jehovah's name,
And ventured on his grace!
5 Trust in the Lord, for ever trust,
And banish all your fears:
Strength, in the Lord Jehovah, dwells,
Eternal as his years.
The Church, the Palace of God.
1 HAPPY the church, thou sacred place,
The seat of thy Creator's grace!
Thy holy courts are his abode,
Thou earthly palace of our God!
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