416

66

Early will I seek Thee."
Ps. lxiii. 1.

P.M.

WH
WHEN the morning light drives away the
With the sun so bright and fair, [night,
And it draws its line near th' appointed time,
I'll away to the house of prayer;

For 'tis there we do agree-yes, with
happy hearts and free, [prayer.
And I love to early be at the house of

2 On the frosty dawn of a winter's morn, When the earth is wrapt in snow;

Or the summer breeze plays around the trees,
To the house of prayer I'll go;

When the holy day has come, and the
Sabbath-breakers roam,

I delight to leave my home for the
house of prayer.

3 In the church I meet with the friends I greet, At the time of morning prayer;

And our hearts we raise in a hymn of praise, For 'tis always pleasant there;

In the book of holy truth, full of counsel and reproof, [house of prayer.

We behold the rule of youth at the

4 May the dews of grace fill the hallow'd place, And the sunshine never fail,

[grows,

While each blooming rose which in memory

Shall a sweet perfume exhale;

When we mingle here no more, but have met on Jordan's shore,

We will talk of moments o'er at the

house of prayer.

417" Prepare your hearts unto the Lord.”

2

1 Sam. vii. 3.

ESUS, we look to Thee,

JESUS,

Thy promis'd presence claim;

Thou in the midst of us shalt be,

Assembled in Thy name:
Thy name salvation is,

D.S.M.

Which here we come to prove;
Thy name is life, and health, and peace,
And everlasting love.

Not in the name of pride,

Or selfishness we meet;

From nature's paths we turn aside,

And worldly thoughts forget:
We meet the grace to take

Which Thou hast freely giv'n ;

We meet on earth for Thy dear sake,
That we may meet in heav'n.

418

WH

"There am I in the midst."

Matt. xviii. 20.

L.M

HERE two or three with sweet accord,
Obedient to their sov'reign LORD,

Meet to recount His acts of grace,
And offer solemn prayer and praise,

2 "There," says the SAVIOUR, "will I be, Amid this little company;

To them unveil my smiling face,
And shed my glories round the place."

3 We meet at Thy command, dear LORD,
Relying on Thy faithful word;

Now send Thy SPIRIT from above,
And fill our hearts with heav'nly love.

419

0

"A people near unto Him."
Ps. cxlviii. 14.

WHAT a blessing 'tis to prove

L.M.

Sweet nearness to Mount Zion's KING,
Then the dear saints, inflamed with love,
Delight to pray, delight to sing.

2 Then O what fellowship with GOD-
What sweet enjoyment of His grace!
Love in the heart is shed abroad,
And all the soul is fill'd with peace.

3 Through the REDEEMER's precious blood,
We for a growing nearness pray,
Till face to face we see our GOD,
In regions of eternal day.

420

"The Lord shall answer.

Isa. lviii. 9.

L.M.

LORD, while we meet to praise and pray,

Send ev'ry sensual care away;

Melt ev'ry heart, meet ev'ry case,
And let Thy glory fill this place.

2 Make us all conscious of our need,
Teach us in JESUS' name to plead,
A prayer indite in ev'ry breast,
And grant us what our souls

request.

3 Grace, strength, and comfort we desire;
For all these things Thou say'st inquire;
With empty vessels we are come,
LORD, send us richly laden home.

421

“He sent His word and healed them."
Ps. cvii. 20.

C.M.

FORTH in Thy strength, O LORD, we go,
Thy Gospel to proclaim,

Thine only righteousness to show,
And glorify Thy name.

2 Vouchsafe Thine aid to speak Thy word
In this appointed hour;
Attend it with Thy SPIRIT, LORD,
And let it come with pow'r.

3 Open the hearts of all that hear,
To make the SAVIOUR room;
O let them find redemption near,
Let faith by hearing come.

4 Give them to hear the word as Thine,
With meekness to receive,

To feel the saving pow'r divine,
Which bids the dead to live.

422

THEM

"And all the people answered, Amen,

Amen."-Neh. viii. 6.

D.C M.

THE Church of CHRIST in ancient times,
Met in the open air,

To hear the word, to sing their hymns,
And offer fervent prayer:

Their shouts like rolling thunder broke,
O'er mountain, field, and glen,

When with united voice they cried,
'Amen, Amen, Amen."

2 Some took the lead, the rest engag'd
In mental, earnest prayer;

No matter when or where they met,
The LORD was with them there:
"Send out Thy light and truth," they cried,
"And save the sons of men;"

Then all the people cried aloud,

66

'Amen, Amen, Amen.”

3 In Ezra's time the people met,
To hear the written word;
When the devoted Scribe made prayer
To Israel's gracious LORD:
A trembling awe came o'er the host,
The LORD was present then,
And all the people cried aloud,
"Amen, Amen, Amen."

4 Let those despise whose hearts are cold,
And "silence, silence," cry,
Our prayers on wings of faith shall rise,
And pierce the lofty sky:

We will obey the word of GOD,

And not the word of men,

With heart and voice we will rejoice,
And cry aloud, "Amen."

423

"Go out into the highways and hedges,' &c. Luke xiv. 23.

C.M.

ON Sinai's mount the LORD came down,

The law was written there;

He spread His terrors all around,
Out in the open air.