2 Where'er ascends the sacrifice
Of fervent praise and prayer,
Or on the earth, or in the skies,
The God of heaven is there.
3 His presence is diffused abroad
Through realms, through worlds unknown; Who seek the mercies of our God
Are ever near his throne.
1 THE offerings to thy throne which rise,
Of mingled praise and prayer,
Are but a worthless sacrifice
Unless the heart is there.
2 Upon thine all discerning ear
Let no vain words intrude;
No tribute, but the vow sincere,
The tribute of the good.
3 My offerings will indeed be blest,
If sanctified by thee;
If thy pure Spirit touch my breast
With its own purity.
may that Spirit warm my heart
To piety and love,
And to life's lowly vale impart
Some
rays from heaven above.
Privilege of Christian Worship. Ps. 132.
1 THE Lord in Zion placed his name,
His ark was settled there :
To Zion the whole nation came
To worship thrice a year.
2 But we have no such lengths to go,
Nor wander far abroad;
Where'er thy saints assemble now,
There is a house for God.
3 Here, Mighty God! accept our vows,
Here let thy praise be spread;
Bless the provisions of thy house,
And fill thy poor with bread.
4 Here let the son of David reign;
Let God's Anointed shine;
Justice and truth his court maintain,
With love and power divine.
5 Here let him hold a lasting throne,
And, as his kingdom grows,
Fresh honours shall adorn his crown,
And shame confound his foes.
1 WHEN before thy throne we kneel,
Filled with awe and holy fear,
Teach us, O our God, to feel,
All thy sacred presence near.
2 Check each proud and wandering thought
When on thy great name we call;
Man is nought, is less than nought;
Thou, our God, art all in all.
3 Weak, imperfect creatures, we
In this vale of darkness dwell;
Yet presume to look to thee
'Midst thy light ineffable.
4 O receive the praise that dares
Seek thy heaven-exalted throne;
Bless our offerings, hear our prayers,
Infinite and Holy One!
WHEREWITH shall I approach the Lord,
And bow before his throne?
Oh! how procure his kind regard,
And for my guilt atone?
2 Shall altars flame, and victims bleed,
And spicy fumes ascend?
Will these my earnest wish succeed,
And make my God my friend?
3 O no, my soul! 't were fruitless all;
Such offerings are vain :
No fatlings from the field or stall
His favour can obtain.
4 To men their rights I must allow,
And proofs of kindness give;
To God with humble rev'rence bow
And to his glory live.
5 Hands that are clean, and hearts sincere
He never will despise ;
And cheerful duty he 'll prefer
To costly sacrifice.
Homage and Devotion.
1 WITH sacred joy we lift our eyes
To those bright realms above,
That glorious temple in the skies,
Where dwells eternal love
2 Before the awful throne we bow
Of heaven's almighty king:
Here we present the solemn vow,
And hymns of praise we sing.
3 Thee we adore; and, Lord, to thee
Our filial duty pay :
Thy service, unconstrained and free,
Conducts to endless day.
4 While in thy house of prayer we knee.
With trust and holy fear,
Thy mercy and thy truth reveal,
And lend a gracious ear.
5 With fervour teach our hearts to pray
And tune our lips to sing;
Nor from thy presence cast away
The sacrifice we bring.
The Christian Sabbath Morning.
1 ANOTHER Six days work is done,
Another Sabbath is begun;
Return, my soul, enjoy thy rest,
Improve the day that God hath blessed.
2 O that our thoughts and thanks may rise, As grateful incense, to the skies;
And draw from heaven that sweet repose
Which none but he that feels it knows.
3 This heavenly calm, within the breast,
Is the dear pledge of glorious rest,
Which for the church of God remains,
The end of cares, the end of pains.
4 In holy duties, let the day,
In holy pleasures, pass away;
How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend,
In hope of one that ne'er shall end!
1 LORD of the Sabbath, hear our vows, On this thy day, in this thy house; And own, as grateful sacrifice,
The songs which from thy churches rise.
2 Thine earthly sabbaths, Lord, we love;
But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our longing souls aspire,
With earnest hope and strong desire
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