3 Blest are the men whose hearts are set
To find the way to Sion's gate;

God is their strength; and through the road
They lean upon their helper, God.

4 Cheerful they walk with growing strength,
Till all shall meet in heaven at length;
Till all before Thy face appear,

And join in nobler worship there.

84

Version 3.

148th M.

1

ORD of the worlds above,

The dwellings of Thy love,
Thine earthly temples are!
To Thine abode
My heart aspires,
With warm desires
To see my God.

2 O happy souls that pray

Where God appoints to hear!

O blessed those that pay

Their constant service there!
They praise Thee still;

And happy they,

That love the way

To Sion's hill.

3 They go from strength to strength

Through this dark vale of tears,

Till all arrive at length,

Till each in heaven appears:

87

O glorious seat!
When God our King
Shall thither bring

Our willing feet.

4 The Lord His people loves,
His hand no good withholds
From those His heart approves,
pure and faithful souls:
Thrice-happy he,

From

O God of Hosts,

Whose spirit trusts

Alone in Thee.

1 LORIOUS things of thee are spoken,

G Sion, city of our God;

He, whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for His own abode ;
On the Rock of ages founded,

What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou may'st smile at all thy foes.
2 See! the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love,
Well supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove :
Who can faint, while such a river

Ever flows their thirst to assuage
Blessings, like the Lord, the Giver,
Never fail from age to age.

?

3 May the grace of Christ our Saviour, And the Father's boundless love,

P. M.

87

1

With the Holy Spirit's favour,
Rest upon us from above:
Thus may we abide in union

With each other and the Lord,
And possess in sweet communion
Joys which earth cannot afford.

Version 2.

HE Church of God below

THE

Is like His Church above,
Safe shielded from her every foe
By heavenly power and love.

2 On high and holy ground

Her deep foundations rest:
And God within her courts is found
An ever-present Guest.

3 The Church of God below

Shall yet more honoured be;
The nations to her side shall flow,
The world her glories see.

4 O blest and favoured men,

That in her courts are born!
Their life but sets to rise again
In heaven's eternal morn.

S. M.

2 Their joy shall bear their spirits up,
Through their Redeemer's Name;
His righteousness exalts their hope,
Nor Satan dares condemn.

3 The Lord, our glory and defence,
Strength and salvation gives;
Israel, thy King for ever reigns,
Thy God for ever lives.

90

1

LORD, the Saviour and defence
Of us, Thy chosen race,

From age to age Thou still hast been
Our sure abiding place.

2 Thou turnest man, O Lord, to dust,
Of which he first was made:

C. M.

And when Thou speak'st the word, "Return,"

'Tis instantly obeyed.

3 So teach us, Lord, the uncertain sum
Of our short days to mind,

That to true wisdom all our hearts
May ever be inclined.

4 Turn Thee again, O Lord, our God!
Be gracious at the last,

90

1

That the bright hope of future bliss
May heal our sorrows past.

SHI

Version 2.

HINE on our souls, eternal God,
With rays of beauty shine;

O let Thy favour crown our days,
And all their course be Thine!

C. M.

92

1

2 Did we not raise our hearts 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 this desert road,
Till all our labours cease;
And heaven refresh our weary souls
With everlasting peace.

L. M.

WEET 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 at night.

2 Sweet is the day of sacred rest,
No earthly cares shall fill my breast;
O may my
heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp of solemn sound!

3 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!

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