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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.

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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.

PRAYER.

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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