Happy are they who find a place
Here in the temples of thy grace;
Here we behold thy gentler rays,
And seek thy face, and learn thy praise.
Happy the men, whose purpose stands
To keep the way of thy commands:
Thou art their guide; and through the road
They rest upon their helper, God.
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!
HYMN XC. L. M.
Before or after sermon.
WHILE here as wand'ring sheep we stray,
Teach us, O teach us, LORD, thy way!
Dispose our hearts, with sacred awe,
To love thy word, to keep thy law.
Great source of light to all below!
Teach us thy holy will to know;
Teach us to read thy word aright,
And make it our supreme delight.
Maker, instructor, judge of all,
O hear us when on thee we call!
Preserve us in thy holy ways,
And teach our hearts to speak thy praise.
HYMN XCI. C. M.
Secret devotion.
ATHER divine, thy piercing eye
Looks through the shades of night;.
In deep retirement thou art nigh,
With heart-discerning sight.
There shall that piercing eye survey
Our humble worship paid,
With ev'ry morning's dawning ray,
And ev'ry ev'ning's shade.
We'll leave behind each earthly care;
To thee our minds shall soar;
While grateful praise and fervent pray'r
Employ the silent hour.
So shall the sun in smiles arise;
The day shall close in peace;
So wilt thou train us for the skies,
Where joy shall never cease.
HYMN XCII. L. M.
Family devotion.
ATHER of men, thy care we bless, Which crowns our family with peace: From thee we spring, and by thy hand From day to day are still sustain'd. E 5
To thee, most worthy to be prais'd,
Be our domestic altars rais'd,
Who, lord of heav'n, scorn'st not to dwell
With saints in their obscurest cell.
To thee let each united house,
Morning and night, present its vows;
Our servants there, and rising race,
Be taught thy precepts, and thy grace.
O may each future age proclaim
The honours of thy glorious name;
While, pleas'd and thankful, we remove
To join thy family above!
HYMN XCIII. L. M.
The eternal sabbath.
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 temple rise.
Thine earthly sabbaths, LORD, we love;
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our longing souls aspire,
With cheerful hope, and strong desire.
No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin por death shall reach the place;
No groans shall mingle with the songs
Which dwell upon immortal tongues.
No rude alarms of angry foes:
No cares to break the long repose;
No midnight shade, no clouded sun,
But sacred, high, eternal noon.
O long expected day, begin;
Dawn on these realms of pain and sin:
With joy we'll tread th' appointed road,
And sleep in death to rest with God.
HYMN XCIV. L. M.
A morning hymn.
COD of the morning, at whose voice
The cheerful sun makes haste to rise,
And as exulting in his strength
Pursues his journey through the skies:
From the fair chambers of the east
The circuit of his race proceeds,
And without weariness or rest
Round the whole earth his course he speeds.
Oh, like the sun may we fulfill
The various duties of the day,
With steady mind and active will
March on and keep our heav'nly way!
LORD, thy commands are right and pure,
Enlight'ning our beclouded eyes;
Thy threat'nings just, thy promise sure,
Thy gospel makes the simple wise.
Be thou, O God, our guide and strength
Till we arrive at heav'nly bliss;
All our desires and hopes beside
Are faint and cold, compar'd with this.
HYMN XCV. C. M.
An evening hymn.
INDULGENT God, whose bounteous care
O'er all thy works is shown!
O let my grateful praise and pray'r
Ascend before thy throne!
What mercies has this day bestow'd!
How largely hast thou blest!
My cup with plenty overflow'd,
With cheerfulness my breast.
Now may sweet slumbers close my eyes,
From pain and sickness free;
And let my waking thoughts arise
To meditate on thee.
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