Songs of praise, and fervent prayers.
Pure and contrite hearts alone
Find acceptance at thy throne.
2 Hapless men, whose footsteps stray
From the temple of the Lord!
Teach them Zion's heavenly way;
To their feet thy light afford.
Let the world unite to raise
Solemn harmonies of praise.
Worship in spirit and in truth.
1 FATHER of omnipresent grace!
We seem agreed to seek thy face:
But every soul assembled here
Doth naked in thy sight appear;
Thou know'st who only bows the knee,
And who in heart approaches thee.
2 To-day, while it is called to-day,
Awake and stir us up to pray;
The spirit of thy word impart,
And breathe the life into our heart;
Our weakness help, our darkness chase,
And guide us by the light of grace.
Subjection to the Father of Spirits.
1 ETERNAL Source of light and thought!
Be all beneath thyself forgot,
Whilst thee, great parent-mind, we own,
In prostrate homage round thy throne.
2 Whilst in themselves our souls survey
Of thee some faint reflected ray,
They wondering to their Father rise:
His power how vast! his thoughts how wise
30 may we live before thy face,
The willing subjects of thy grace;
And through each path of duty move,
With filial awe, and filial love.
1 GOD in his temple let us meet,
In spirit, low before him bend:
Here he hath fixed his mercy-seat,
Here on his Sabbath we attend.
2 Arise into thy resting-place,
Thou, and thine ark of strength, O Lord!
Shine through the veil, we seek thy face.
Speak, for we hearken to thy word.
3 With righteousness thy priests array:
Joyful thy favored people be:
Let those who teach, and those who pray,
Let all be holiness to thee!
The Divine Spirit implored.
1 CREATOR Spirit, by whose light
The sleeping worlds were called from night'
Come, visit every pious mind,
Come, pour thy joys on human kind;
From sin and sorrow set us free,
And make us temples worthy thee.
2 Plenteous in grace descend from high
Rich in thy sevenfold energy;
Our frailty help, our vice control,
Thou ruler of our secret soul!
And, lest our feet should haply stray
Protect and guide us in the way.
"The nealthful spirit of God's grace."
1 SPIRIT of grace, and health, and power!
Fountain of light and love below!
Abroad thy healing influence shower;
On all thy servants let it flow.
2 Inflame our hearts with perfect love;
In us the work of faith fulfil:
So not heaven's host shall swifter move,
Than we on earth to do thy will.
3 Father! 't is thine each day to yield
Thy children's wants a fresh supply;
Thou cloth'st the lilies of the field,
And hearest the young ravens cry.
4 On thee we cast our care; we live
Through thee, who know'st our every
O feed us with thy grace, and give
Our souls this day the living bread!
J SHINE on our souls, eternal God!
With rays of beauty shine;
O let thy favor crown our days,
And all their round be thine.
2 Did we not raise our hands to thee,
Our hands might toil in vain;
Small joy success itself could give,
If thou thy love restrain.
3 With thee let every week begin;
With thee each day be spent ;
For thee each fleeting hour improved,
Since each by thee is lent.
4 Thus cheer us through the checkered road,
Till all our labors cease,
And heaven refresh our weary souls
With everlasting peace.
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.
Close of Worship. Evening.
1 ERE to the world again we go,
Its pleasures, cares, and idle show,
Thy grace once more, O God, we crave,
From folly and from sin to save.
2 May the great truths we here have heard—
The lessons of thy holy word-
Dwell in our inmost bosoms deep,
And all our souls from error keep.
3 Oh! may the influence of this day,
Long as our memory with us stay,
And as an angel guardian prove,
To guide us to our home above.
Prayer for Divine Direction.
1 ETERNAL Source of life and light,
Supremely good and wise,
To thee we bring our grateful vows,
To thee lift up our eyes.
2 Our dark and erring minds illume
With truth's celestial rays;
Inspire our hearts with sacred love,
And tune our lips to praise.
3 Safely conduct us, by thy grace,
Through life's perplexing road;
And place us, when that journey 's o'er
At thy right hand, O God.
Prayer for a Blessing.
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.
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