WELCOME, sweet day of rest,
That saw the Lord arise;
Welcome to this reviving breast,
And these rejoicing eyes.
The King Himself comes near,
And feasts his saints to-day;
Here we may meet, and see Him here,
And love, and praise, and pray.
One day within the place
Where Thou, my God, hast been,
Is better than ten thousand days
Of vanity and sin.
My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,
And sing thy praise, and soar away
To purer, higher bliss.
SWEET is the work, my God, my King,
To praise thy Name, give thanks, and sing;
To shew thy love by morning light,
And tell of all thy truth by night.
My heart shall triumph in the Lord,
And bless his works, and bless his word:
Thy works of grace, how bright they shine!
How deep thy counsels, how divine!
But I shall share a glorious part,
When grace hath well refin'd my heart,
And fresh supplies of joy are shed,
Like holy oil to cheer my head.
Then shall I see, and hear, and know
All I desir'd or wish'd below;
And every power find sweet employ
In that eternal world of joy.
ERE another Sabbath close,
Ere again we seek repose,
Lord, our voice ascends to Thee;
At thy feet we bow the knee.
For the mercies of the day,
For this rest upon our way,
Thanks to Thee alone be given,
Glorious Lord of earth and heaven!
Cold our services have been,
Mingled every prayer with sin;
But Thou canst and wilt forgive;
By thy grace alone we live.
By the merits of thy Son,
By the victory He won,
Pard'ning grace and peace bestow,
While we journey here below.
While this thorny path we tread,
May thy love our footsteps lead;
When our journey here is past,
May we rest with Thee at last.
O GOD of hosts, the mighty Lord,
How lovely is the place,
Where Thou, enthron'd in glory, shew'st
The brightness of thy face!
My longing soul faints with desire
To view thy blest abode;
My panting heart and flesh
For Thee, the living God.
O Lord of hosts, my King and God,
How highly blest are they,
Who in thy temple love to dwell,
And there thy praise display!
Thrice happy they, whose choice has Thee
Their sure protection made;
Who love to tread the sacred ways,
That to thy dwelling lead.
LORD of the worlds above,
How pleasant and how fair
The dwellings of thy love,
Thy earthly temples are!
To thine abode
My heart aspires,
With warm desires,
To see my God.
O happy souls that pray
Where God appoints to hear;
O happy men that pay
Their constant service there!
They praise Thee still;
And happy they
That love the way
To Zion's hill.
They go from strength to strength,
Through this dark vale of tears,
Till each arrives at length,
Till each in heaven appears :
O glorious seat
Of God our King!
Lord, thither bring
Our willing feet.
O COME, loud anthems let us sing,
Loud thanks to our Almighty King;
For we our voices high should raise,
When our salvation's Rock we praise.
Into his presence let us haste,
To thank Him for his favours past;
To Him address, in joyful songs,
The praise that to his Name belongs.
O let us to his courts repair,
And bow with adoration there;
Low on our knees devoutly all
Before the Lord our Maker fall.
IN thy presence we appear,
Lord, we love to worship here;
Here thy faithful people meet
Thee upon thy mercy-seat.
While to Thee our prayers ascend,
Let thine ear in love attend ;
Hear us when thy Spirit pleads,
Hear, for Jesus intercedes.
While thy glorious praise is sung,
Touch our lips, unloose our tongue;
Then our joyful souls shall bless
Thee, the Lord our Righteousness.
While thy ministers proclaim
Peace and pardon through thy Name,
In their voices let us own
Jesus speaking from His throne.
From thy house when we return,
May our hearts within us burn;
And at evening let us say,
We have walk'd with God to-day.
LO! God is here! let us adore,
And own how dreadful is this place;
Let all within us feel his
And humbly bow before his face :
Who know his power, his grace who prove,
Serve Him with awe, with rev'rence love,
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