774 John xx. 26. C. M. ELLIOTT'S SEL

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BLEST

LEST day of God, most calm, most bright,

The first and best of days;

The labourer's rest, the saint's delight,
A day of joyful praise.

2 My Saviour's face did make thee shine,
His rising thee did raise;

This made thee heavenly and divine
Beyond the common days.

3 This day I must for God appear,
For, Lord, the day is Thine:

But spent and hallowed in Thy fear,
Its blessing shall be mine.

775

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THOU glorious Sun of Righteousness,

Risen on high to set no more,

Shine on us now, to heal and bless
With brighter beams than e'er before.
2 Shine on the temples of Thy grace;
In holy robes Thy priests be clad;
Unveil the brightness of Thy face,
And make Thy chosen people glad.

3 Shine on, shine on, Thou glorious Sun,
Drink thou, my soul, the orient light,
Till that bright Sabbath be begun,
The eternal day which knows no night.

776 Matt. xii. 8. C. M. S. WESLEY, Jun.

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LORD of the Sabbath, Thee we praise

In concert with the blest,

Who, joyful, in harmonious lays
Employ an endless rest.

2 On this glad day a brighter scene
Of glory was displayed,

By God, the Eternal Word, than when
The universe was made.

3 He rises, who mankind hath bought
With grief and pain extreme:

"Twas great to speak a world from nought, 'Twas greater to redeem.

777

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Mark xvi. 2-6.

ORN of morns, and day of days,

M silent as the morning's rays,

From the sepulchre's dark prison,
Christ, the Light of lights, hath risen.
2 While the dead world sleeps around,
Let the sacred temples sound;

Law and prophet, and blest psalm,
Lit with holy light so calm.

3 Thus to hearts in slumber weak
Let the heavenly trumpet speak;
And, like streaks of early morn,
New ways mark the newly born.
4 Grant us this, and with us be,
Fountain of all charity,

Thou who dost the Spirit give,
Bidding the dead letters live.
5 Equal praise to Father, Son,
And to Thee, the Holy One,
By whose quickening breath divine
Our dull spirits burn and shine.

7778 Matt. xiv. 23.

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THE

7'8.

8.8.8.6. C. E.

HE Sabbath day has reached its close,
Yet, Saviour, ere I seek repose,

Grant me the peace Thy love bestows,
Smile on my evening hour.

2 O heavenly Comforter, sweet guest,
Hallow and calm my troubled breast:
Weary, I come to Thee for rest;
Smile on my evening hour.

3 O ever present, ever nigh,
Jesus, on Thee I fix mine eye,
Thou hear'st the contrite spirit's sigh;
Smile on my evening hour.

4 My only Intercessor, Thou,
Mingle Thy fragrant incense now
With every prayer and every vow;
Smile on my evening hour,

5 And O, when life's short course shall end, And death's dark shades around impend, My God, my everlasting Friend,

779

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Smile on my evening hour.

Isaiah ii. 3, 4. L. M. MONTGOMERY. ILLIONS within Thy courts have met, Millions this day before Thee bowed

Their faces Zion-ward were set,

Vows with their lips to Thee they vowed:

2 But Thou, soul-searching God! hast known The hearts of all that bent the knee, And hast accepted those alone,

In spirit and truth that worshipped Thee.

3 People of many a tribe and tongue,
Men of strange colours, climates, lands,
Have heard Thy truth, Thy glory sung,
And offered prayer with holy hands.

4 Soon as the light of morning broke
O'er island, continent, or deep,
Thy far-spread family awoke,
Sabbath all round the world to keep.

5 From east to west, the sun surveyed, From north to south, adoring throngs; And still, when evening stretched her shade,

The stars came out to hear their songs.

6 Harmonious as the winds and seas, In halcyon hours, when storms are flown, Arose earth's Babel languages,

In pure accordance to Thy throne.

7 Not angel-trumpets sound more clear,
Not elders' harps, nor seraphs' lays,
Yield sweeter music to Thine ear,
Than humble prayer and thankful praise.
8 And not a prayer, a tear, a sigh,
Hath failed this day some suit to gain;
To those in trouble, Thou wert nigh,
Not one hath sought Thy face in vain.

9 Thy poor were bountifully fed,

Thy chastened sons have kissed the rod,
Thy mourners have been comforted,
The pure in heart have seen their God.

10 Yet one prayer more!—and be it one,
In which both heaven and earth accord;
Fulfil Thy promise to Thy Son.

Let all that breathe call Jesus, Lord.

PUBLIC WORSHIP-ITS COMMENCE

780

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S

MENT.

Psalm lxix. 34. 7's. MONTGOMERY.

NONGS of praise the angels sang,
Heaven with hallelujahs rang,
When Jehovah's work begun,
When He spake, and it was done.

2 Songs of praise awoke the morn,
When the Prince of Peace was born;
Songs of praise arose, when He
Captive led captivity.

3 Heaven and earth must pass away,
Songs of praise shall crown that day;
God will make new heavens and earth,
Songs of praise shall hail their birth.

4 And shall man alone be dumb,
Till that glorious kingdom come?
No;-the Church delights to raise
Psalms, and hymns, and songs of praise.

5 Saints below, with heart and voice,
Still in songs of praise rejoice;
Learning here, by faith and love,
Songs of praise to sing above.

6 Borne upon their latest breath,
Songs of praise shall conquer death;
Then, amidst eternal joy,

Songs of praise their powers employ.

Rev. vii. 9-12. C. M. MONTGOMERY.

781 SING

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we the song of those who stand Around the eternal throne,

Of every kindred, clime, and land,
A multitude unknown.

2 Life's poor distinctions vanish here;
To-day the young, the old,
Our Saviour and His flock appear
One Shepherd and one fold.

3 Toil, trial, suffering, still await
On earth the pilgrim-throng,
Yet learn we in our low estate,
The saint's triumphant song.