1 SWEET is the work, my God, my King,
To praise thy name, give thanks, and sing;
To show thy love by morning light,
And talk of all thy truth by night.
2 Sweet is the day of sacred rest;
No mortal cares shall seize my breast;
O may my heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp of solemn sound.
3 When grace has purified my heart,
Then I shall share a glorious part;
And fresh supplies of joy be shed,
Like holy oil, to cheer my head.

4 Then shall I see, and hear, and know
All I desired or wished below;
And every power find sweet employ
In that eternal world of joy.

82

ISAAC WATTS.

Pledge of glorious rest.

1 RETURN, my soul, enjoy thy rest;
Improve the day thy God hath blest:
Another six days' work is done;
Another Sabbath is begun.

20 that our thoughts and thanks may rise, As grateful incense to the skies,

And draw from Christ 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 comforts pass away;
How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend,
In hope of one that ne'er shall end!

JOSEPH STENNETT.

83

Hailing the Sabbath's return.
1 MY opening eyes with rapture see
The dawn of this returning day;
My thoughts, O God, ascend to thee,
While thus my early vows I pay.
2 I yield my heart to thee alone,
Nor would receive another guest:
Eternal King, erect thy throne,

And reign sole monarch in my breast. 3 O bid this trifling world retire,

And drive each carnal thought away; Nor let me feel one vain desire,

One sinful thought, through all the day. 4 Then, to thy courts when I repair, My soul shall rise on joyful wing; The wonders of thy love declare, And join the strains which angels sing.

1 FAR from my thoughts, vain world, be gone!

Let my religious hours alone:

Fain would mine eyes my Saviour see;

I wait a visit, Lord, from thee.
20 warm my heart with holy fire,
And kindle there a pure desire:
Come, sacred Spirit, from above,
And fill my soul with heavenly love.
3 Blest Saviour, what delicious fare!
How sweet thine entertainments are!
Never did angels taste above
Redeeming grace and dying love.
4 Hail, great Immanuel, all divine!
In thee thy Father's glories shine;
Thy glorious name shall be adored,
And every tongue confess thee Lord.

ISAAC WATTS.

LISBON. S. M.

DANIEL READ.

85

The Sabbath welcome.

1 WELCOME, sweet day of rest,
That saw the Lord arise;
Welcome to this reviving breast,
And these rejoicing eyes!

2 The King himself comes near,
And feasts his saints to-day;
Here we may sit, and see him here,
And love, and praise, and pray.

8 One day in such a place,

Where thou, my God, art seen,

Is sweeter than ten thousand days Of pleasurable sin.

4 My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,

And sit and sing herself away
To everlasting bliss.

ISAAC WATTS.

86 Day of light, rest, peace, prayer.

1 THIS is the day of light:

Let there be light to-day;

O Day-spring, rise upon our night, And chase its gloom away.

2 This is the day of rest:

Our failing strength renew;

On weary brain and troubled breast Shed thou thy freshening dew.

3 This is the day of peace: Thy peace our spirits fill;

Bid thou the blasts of discord cease, The waves of strife be still.

Show thy reconciled face,

Take away our sin and shame;
From our worldly cares set free,
May we rest this day in thee.

3 Here we come thy name to praise;
May we feel thy presence near:
May thy glory meet our eyes,
While we in thy house appear:
Here afford us, Lord, a taste
Of our everlasting feast.

4 May thy gospel's joyful sound Conquer sinners, comfort saints; Make the fruits of grace abound,

Bring relief for all complaints: Thus may all our Sabbaths prove, Till we join the Church above.

JOHN NEWTON.

GEORGE FREDERICK HANDEL..

EVENTIDE. 10.

WILLIAM HENRY MONK,

93

Abide with me. 1 ABIDE with me! Fast falls the eventide, The darkness deepens-Lord, with me abide! When other helpers fail, and comforts flee, Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

2 Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass away; Change and decay in all around I see; O thou, who changest not, abide with me! 3 I need thy presence every passing hour; What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who, like thyself, my guide and stay can be? Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me!

4 I fear no foe, with thee at hand to bless: Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness; Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if thou abide with me.

5 Hold thou thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

HENRY F. LYTE.