432. The Lord's Day Evening. C.M.
Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.-PSALM lxxxvi. 4. 1 WHEN, O my Saviour, when shall I Behold thee all serene,
Bless'd in perpetual sabbath-day, Without a veil between?
2 Assist me while I wander here Amidst a world of cares; Incline mine heart to pray with love, And then accept my prayers.
3 Release my soul from ev'ry chain, No more hell's captive led; And pardon a repenting child, For whom the Saviour bled.
4 Spare me, my God! O spare the soul That gives itself to thee! Take all that I possess below, And give thyself to me,
5 Thy Spirit, O my Father! give, To be my guide and friend; To light my way to ceaseless joys, Where sabbaths never end.
433. Lord's Day Evening. L.M.
God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints. PSALM lxxxix. 7.
1 LORD, how delightful 'tis to see A whole assembly worship thee! At once they sing, at once they pray! They hear of heav'n and learn the way.
2 I have been there, and still would go, 'Tis like a little heaven below: May nothing draw my heart away, Or tempt me to forget this day.
3 O write upon my mem'ry, Lord, The texts and doctrines of thy word: That I may break thy laws no more, But love thee better than before.
4 With thoughts of Christ, and things divine, Fill up this foolish heart of mine; That hoping pardon through his blood, .I may lie down and wake with God.
434. The Eternal Sabbath. L.M.
There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. -HEB. iv. 9.
1 LORD of the Sabbath, hear us pray In this thine house, on this thy day; And own as grateful sacrifice,
The songs which from thy people rise.
2 Thine earthly sabbaths, Lord, we love But there's a nobler rest above; To that our longing hearts aspire With lively faith and strong desire.
3 No more fatigue, no more distress, Nor sin, nor hell, shall reach the place; No groans shall mingle with the songs Which issue from immortal tongues.
4 No rude alarms of raging foes; No cares to break the long repose: No midnight shade, no clouded sun, But sacred, high, eternal noon.
5 O long-expected day, begin,
Dawn on these realms of woe and sin; Fain would we leave the weary road, And sleep in death to rest with God.
435. Before Prayer. L.M.
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit.-EPH. vi. 18.
1 COME, Holy Spirit, calm my mind, And fit me to approach my God; Remove each vain, each worldly thought, And lead me to thy blest abode.
2 Hast thou imparted to my soul A living spark of heavenly fire? O kindle now the sacred flame, With ardent zeal my soul inspire!
3 O make my wand'ring heart to feel The love that Christ to sinners bore; Then mourn the wounds my sins produc'd, And my redeeming God adore.
435. A Blessing sought on Prayer. 7s.
I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.-Gen. xxxii. 26.
1 LORD, I cannot let thee go, Till a blessing thou bestow; Do not turn away thy face, Mine's an urgent pressing case. [2 Dost thou ask me who I am? Ah! my Lord, thou know'st my name; Yet the question gives a plea,
To support my suit with thee.]
3 Thou didst once a wretch behold, In rebellion blindly bold,
Scorn thy grace, thy power defy- That poor rebel, Lord, was I.
4 Once, a sinner near despair, Sought thy mercy-seat by prayer; Mercy heard, and set him free; Lord, that mercy came to me.
[5 Many days have pass'd since then, Many changes I have seen;
Yet have been upheld till now, Who could hold me up but thou ?]
6 Thou hast help'd in ev'ry need; This emboldens me to plead :- After so much mercy past, Canst thou let me sink at last?
7 No-I must maintain my hold, "Tis thy goodness makes me bold; I can no denial take,
When I plead for Jesu's sake.
436. Encouragement to Prayer. C.M.
Ask, and it shall be given you.-MAT. vii. 7. 1 APPROACH, my soul, the mercy-seat, Where Jesus answers pray'r; There humbly fall before his feet, For none can perish there.
2 Thy promise is my only plea, With this I venture nigh; Thou callest burden'd souls to thee, And such, O Lord, am I. .
3 Bow'd down beneath a load of sin, By Satan sorely prest,
By war without, and fears within, I come to thee for rest.
4 Be thou my shield and hiding-place, That shelter'd near thy side, I may my fierce accuser face, And tell him, thou hast died.
5 O wond'rous love! to bleed and die, To bear the cross and shame, That guilty sinners, such as I, Might plead thy gracious name,
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