2 Our longing souls faint with desire
To view thy blest abode :

Our heart and flesh cry out for Thee-
For Thee, the Living God.

3 Blessed are they who in thy strength
Their sure defence have made,
Who long to tread the sacred paths
That to thy dwelling lead.

4 May we go on from strength to strength,
And still approach more near,
Till all in Zion's holy mount
Before our God appear!

(From "The Spirit of the Psalms.")

1 GOD, our Strength, to Thee the song With grateful hearts we raise;

To Thee, and Thee alone, belong
All worship, love, and praise.
2. In trouble's dark and stormy hour
Thine ear hath heard our prayer,
And graciously Thine arm of power
Hath sav'd us from despair.

3 And Thou, O ever-gracious Lord,
Will keep thy promise still,

If, meekly heark'ning to thy Word,
We seek to do thy will.

4 Led by the light thy grace imparts,
Ne'er may we bow the knee

To idols, which our wayward hearts
Set up instead of Thee.

1

PSALM LXXXIV. Version 1. L. M.

HOW sweet thy dwelling, Lord, how fair! What peace, what bliss inhabit there! With ardent hope, with strong desire, Our thoughts, our hearts, to Thee aspire. 2 Thrice bless'd are they who, by thy grace, Are strong to run the heav'nly race, And, their eternal home in view, With active zeal their steps pursue. 3 Secure the thirsty vale they tread, By thy protecting presence led;

For them the gushing streams shall flow, Which health and strength and joy bestow. 4 From step to step advancing still, Behold they reach fair Zion's hill, That heav'nly scene, the bright abode Of their Redeemer and their God.

PSALM LXXXIV. Version 2. P. M.

1 LORD of the worlds above, How pleasant and how fair The dwellings of thy love,

2

Thine earthly temples, are!

To thine abode

My heart aspires,

With warm desires, To see my God.

O happy those that stay

Where God will answer prayer!

O happy those that pay

Their constant service there!

They praise Thee still, And still ascend

The paths that lead

To Zion's hill.

3 They go from strength to strength Through this dark vale of tears, Till each arrives at length,

Till each in heav'n appears:

O glorious seat! When God, our King,
Shall thither bring Our willing feet!

PSALM LXXXVII.

P. M.

1 GLORIOUS things of thee were spoken,

Zion, city of our God;

He, whose word can ne'er be broken,
Chose thee for His own abode.

2 Lord, the Church is still thy dwelling,
Still is precious in thy sight;
Judah's temple far excelling,
Beaming with the Gospel's light.

3 On the Rock of Ages founded,
What can shake her sure repose?
With Salvation's walls surrounded,
She can smile at all her foes.

4 Lo, the just of every nation,
Though in distant climes they rove,
Still as citizens of Zion

Shall be register'd above.

PSALM XC.

Version 1.

C. M.

1 SHINE on our souls, Eternal God,
With rays of comfort shine;

O let thy favour crown our days,
And all their course be thine!

D

2 Did we not raise our hands to Thee,
Our hands might toil in vain;
Nor joy success itself could give,
If Thou thy love restrain.

3 With Thee let ev'ry week begin;
With Thee each day be spent ;
For Thee each fleeting hour improv'd,
Since each by Thee is lent.

4 Thus cheer us through the desert road,
Till all our labours cease,

1

And Heav'n refresh our wearied soul
With everlasting peace.

PSALM XC.

GR

REAT Father of Eternity, How short are ages in thy sight! A thousand rolling years with Thee Pass as a single watch of night. 2 But mortal life, how soon it flies! Dream of an hour, how frail our bloom! Like Spring's gay flow'rs, at morn we rise; Cut down ere night to fill the tomb. 3 O teach us to improve our days, To count our moments as they fly, And, form'd to Wisdom's sacred ways, In Thee to live, in Thee to die!

1

PSALM XCII. Version 1. S. M.

S

66

(From The Spirit of the Psalms.")
WEET is the task, O Lord,
Thy glorious acts to sing,

To praise thy Name, and hear thy Word,
And grateful off'rings bring:

2 Sweet at the dawning hour Thy boundless love to tell;

3

4

And, when the night-wind shuts the flower,
Still on the theme to dwell:

Sweet on the Day of Rest
To join in heart and voice,

With those who love and serve Thee best,
And in thy Name rejoice.

To songs of praise and joy
Be ev'ry Sabbath giv'n,

That such may be our blest employ

Eternally in heav'n.

PSALM XCII.

Version 2. SEVENS.

1HOU, that sitt'st enthron'd above! Thou, in whom we live and move! Thou, that art Most Great, Most High, Lord from all eternity!

2 O! how good, how excellent

"Tis, when tongue and heart consent,
Grateful hearts and joyful tongues,
Hymning Thee in tuneful songs.

3 When the morning gilds the skies,
When the stars of ev'ning rise,
We thy praises will record,
Sov'reign Ruler! mighty Lord!

4 Sov'reign Ruler! mighty Lord!
We thy praises will record:
Giver of these blessings! we
Pour the grateful song to Thee.