1 BLEST hour, when mortal man retires
To hold communion with his God,
To send to heaven his warm desires,
And listen to the sacred word.

2 Blest hour, when earthly cares resign
Their empire o'er his anxious breast;
While, all around, the calm divine
Proclaims the holy day of rest.

3 Blest hour, when God himself draws nigh,

Well pleased his people's voice to hear,
To hush the penitential sigh,
And wipe away the mourner's tear.

4 Blest hour! for, where the Lord resorts,
Foretastes of future bliss are given,
And mortals find his earthly courts
The house of God, the gate of heaven.

1 O LORD! where'er thy people meet,
There they behold thy mercy-seat;
Where'er they seek thee, thou art found,
And every place is hallowed ground.
2 For thou, within no walls confined,
Inhabitest the humble mind:
Such ever bring thee where they come,
And, going, take thee to their home.

3 With heavenly grace our souls endue;
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of thy saving name.

4 Here may we prove the power of prayer.
To strengthen faith and sweeten care;
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all heaven before our eyes.

1 As every day, thy mercy spares,
Will bring its trials or its cares,
O Father! till my life shall end,
Be thou my counsellor and friend;
Teach me thy statutes all divine,
And let thy will be always mine.

2 When each day's scenes and labors close,
And wearied nature seeks repose,
With pardoning mercy, richly blest,
Guard me, my Father, while I rest;
And, as each morning sun shall rise,
Oh lead me onward to the skies!

3 And at my life's last setting sun,
My conflicts o'er, my
labors done,
Father, thine heavenly radiance shed,
To cheer and bless my dying bed;
And from death's gloom my spirit raise,
To see thy face and sing thy praise.
49.
Spiritual Needs.
1 I WANT the spirit of power within,
Of love and of a healthful mind,
Of power to conquer every sin,
Of love to God and all mankind;

C. WESLEY.

Of health that pain and death defies,
Most vigorous when the body dies.

2 Oh that the Comforter would come,
Nor visit as a transient guest,
But fix in me his constant home,
And keep possession of my breast;
And make my soul his loved abode,
The temple of indwelling God!

50.

"Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day."
EPISCOPAL COL

1 GREAT God, this sacred day of thine,
Demands the soul's collected powers:
With joy to thee we now resign
These solemn, consecrated hours:
O may our souls, adoring, own
The grace that calls us to thy throne!

2 All-seeing God, thy piercing eye
Can every secret thought explore:
May worldly cares our bosoms fly,
And, where thou art, intrude no more!
Oh may thy grace our spirits move,
And fix our minds on things above!

3 Thy Spirit's powerful aid impart;
And bid thy words, with life divine,
Engage the ear, and warm the heart:
Then shall the day indeed be thine;
Our souls shall then adoring own
The grace that calls us to thy throne.

51.

The Gate of Heaven. E. H. CHAPIN.
1 OUR Father, -God! not face to face
May mortal sense commune with thee,
Nor lift the curtains of that place
Where dwells thy secret majesty.
Yet wheresoe'er our spirits bend
In reverent faith and humble prayer,
Thy promised blessing will descend,
And we shall find thy spirit there.

2 Lord, be the spot, where now we meet,
An open gateway into heaven;
Here may we sit at Jesus' feet,
And feel our deepest sins forgiven.
Here may desponding care look up,
And sorrow lay its burden down;
Or learn of him to drink the cup,
To bear the cross, and win the crown.

1 SAFELY through another week
God has brought us on our way:
Let us now a blessing seek,

Waiting in his courts to-day,-
Day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eternal rest.

2 While we seek supplies of grace,

Through the dear Redeemer's name,
Show thy reconciling face;

Take away our sin and shame :
From our worldly cares set free,
May we rest this day in thee!

3 Here we come thy name to praise ;
Let us feel thy presence near;
May thy glory meet our eyes,

While we in thy house appear!
Here afford us, Lord, a taste
Of our everlasting feast.

4 May the gospel's joyful sound

Conquer sinners, comfort saints;
Make the fruits of grace abound,

Bring relief from all complaints!
Thus let all our sabbaths prove,
Till we join the Church above.

ENGLISH.

9:2

9:

53.