The earthly and heavenly Sabbath.
1 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.
2 No more fatigue, no more distress,
Nor sin, nor death, shall reach the place;
No groans shall mingle with the songs
Which dwell upon immortal tongues;—
3 No rude alarms of angry foes;
No cares, to break the long repose;
No midnight shade, no clouded sun,
But sacred, high, eternal noon.
4 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.
1 SOFTLY fades the twilight ray Of the holy Sabbath day; Gently as life's setting sun,
When the Christian's course is run.
2 Night her solemn mantle spreads
O'er the earth, as daylight fades;
All things tell of calm repose,
At the holy Sabbath's close.
3 Peace is on the world abroad;
"Tis the holy peace of God,-
Symbol of the peace within,
When the spirit rests from sin.
4 Still the Spirit lingers near,
Where the evening worshipper
Seeks communion with the skies,
Pressing onward to the prize.
5 Saviour, may our Sabbaths be
Days of peace and joy in thee,
Till in heaven our souls repose,
Where the Sabbath ne'er shall close.
The Light of God's Countenance.
1 ETERNAL Sun of Righteousness,
Display thy beams divine,
And cause the glory of thy face
On all our hearts to shine.
2 Light in thy light, O, may we see
Thy grace and mercy prove,
Revived, and cheered, and blessed by thee,
The God of pardoning love.
Prayer for a Blessing on the Word.
1 FATHER of all, in whom, alone,
We live, and move, and breathe,
One bright, celestial ray send down,
And cheer thy sons beneath.
2 While in thy word we search for thee,
O, fill our souls with awe;
Thy light impart, that we may see
The wonders of thy law.
3 Now let our darkness comprehend
The light that shines so clear;
Now thy revealing Spirit send,
And give us ears to hear.
4 Before us make thy goodness pass,
Which here, by faith, we know;
Let us in Jesus see thy face,
1 ALMIGHTY God, eternal Lord,
Thy gracious power make known;
Apply the virtue of thy word,
And melt the heart of stone.
2 Speak, with the voice that wakes the dead, And bid the sleeper rise;
O, let his guilty conscience dread
The death that never dies.
3 Let us receive the word we hear, Each in an honest heart;
Lay up the precious treasure there,
And never with it part.
1 SAVIOUR, bless thy word to all;
Quick and powerful let it prove:
O, may sinners hear thy call;
Let thy people grow in love.
2 Thine own gracious message bless;
Follow it with power divine;
Give the gospel great success;
Thine the work, the glory thine.
3 Saviour, bid the world rejoice;
Send, O, send thy truth abroad;
Let the nations hear thy voice,
Hear it, and return to God.
1 GLORIOUS in thy saints appear;
Plant thy heavenly kingdom here;
Light and life to all impart;
Shine on each believing heart; –
2 And, in every grace complete,
Make us, Lord, for glory meet;
Till we stand before thy sight,
Partners with the saints in light.
1 MAY the grace of Christ, our Saviour, And the Father's boundless love, With the Holy Spirit's favor,
Rest upon us from above.
2 Thus may we abide in union
With each other and the Lord,
And possess, in sweet communion,
Joys which earth cannot afford.
8s, 7s & 4.
Prayer for a Blessing.
1 COME, thou soul-transforming Spirit,
Bless the sower and the seed;
Let each heart thy grace inherit;
Raise the weak, the hungry feed;
From the gospel
Now supply thy people's need.
2 O, may all enjoy the blessing
Which thy word 's designed to give ;
Let us all, thy love possessing,
Joyfully the truth receive,
And forever
To thy praise and glory live.
1 DISMISS us with thy blessing, Lord;
Help us to feed upon thy word;
All that has been amiss, forgive,
And let thy truth within us live.
2 Though we are guilty, thou art good;
Wash all our works in Jesus' blood;
Give every burdened soul release,
And bid us all depart in peace.
1 LORD, dismiss us with thy blessing;
Fill our hearts with joy and peace;
Let us each, thy love possessing,
Triumph in redeeming grace:
O, refresh us,
Travelling through this wilderness.
2 Thanks we give, and adoration,
For thy gospel's joyful sound;
May the fruits of thy salvation
In our hearts and lives abound;
May thy presence
With us evermore be found.
3 Then, whene'er the signal's given
Us from earth to call away,
Borne, on angels' wings, to heaven,
Glad the summons to obey,-
May we ever
Reign with Christ in endless day.
Invitation to offer Praise.
1 PRAISE ye the Lord; on every height
Songs to his glory raise;
Ye angel hosts, ye stars of night,
Join in immortal praise.
2 O fire and vapor, hail and snow,
Ye servants of his will;
O stormy winds, that only blow
His mandates to fulfil;
3 Mountains and rocks, to heaven that rise; Fair cedars of the wood;
Creatures of life that wing the skies,
Or track the plains for food;-
4 Judges of nations; kings, whose hand
Waves the proud sceptre high;
O youths and virgins of the land;
Ó age and infancy; -
5 Praise ye his name, to whom alone
All homage should be given,
Whose glory, from th' eternal throne,
Spreads wide o'er earth and heaven.
Exhortation to Praise.
1 YE tribes of Adam, join
With heaven, and earth, and seas,
And offer notes divine
To your Creator's praise:
In worlds of light
Begin the song.
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