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2 To join in fellowship, how sweet,
With those who in the Saviour meet,
Enlighten'd from above!

How excellent the pleasure is,
That's found in such a place as this,
Where all are join'd in love.

3 But if such joy is found to flow
From sacred fellowship below,
Then what must heaven be?
Where all the Saviour's people meet,
And see his face in glory great,
Throughout eternity.

303.

L. M. Gratitude for Christ's love to believers the motive of their love to each other.

Ephesians v. 2.

1 Now be that sacrifice survey'd,

The ransom which the Saviour paid;
That sight familiar to our view,
Yet always wondrous, always new.

2 Bless'd Jesus, while thy grace we sing,
What grateful tribute shall we bring,
That earth, and heav'n, and thou may'st know
How much we love, how much we owe?

3 That off'ring, Lord, thy word hath taught ;
Nor be thy new command forgot,

That, if their Master's death can move,
Thy servants should each other love.

304.

C. M. Love to the brethren, enjoined by the Saviour's precept, and illustrated by his example. John xv. 12.

1 YE foll❜wers of the Prince of Peace,
Who round his table draw,
Remember what his spirit was,
And his peculiar law.

2 Let each his sacred law fulfil;
Like his be ev'ry mind;

Be ev'ry temper form'd by love,
And ev'ry action kind.

3 Let none who call themselves his friends,
Disgrace his honour'd name;

But by a near resemblance prove
The title which they claim.

305.

L. M. The love of Christ unsearchable. Eph. iii. 18, 19.
1 JESUS, thy saints assemble here
Thy sov'reign mercy to declare;
O may these happy seasons prove
Earnests of nobler joys above.

2 Thine everlasting love we sing,

Bless'd fountain! whence our comforts spring;
How deep it sinks, how high it flows,
No saint can speak, no angel knows.

3 Its length and breadth no eye can trace,
Nor thought explore the bounds of grace;
The love which saves our souls from hell
Transcends a seraph's tongue to tell.

4 No higher joy may we desire,

No higher theme our songs inspire,
While here, and when we dwell above,
Than our Redeemer's wondrous love.

306.

L. M. Christ's followers at his table celebrating his praise.
Matthew xxvi. 30.

1 WHILE round the Saviour's board we meet,
And humbly worship at his feet,
O let our warm affections move
In glad returns of grateful love!

2 Let faith our feeble senses aid,
To see thy wondrous love display'd;

And thy forgiving smiles impart
Life, hope, and joy, to ev'ry heart.

307.

L. M. Shewing the death of Christ. I Cor. xi. 26.
1 Ar thy command, Redeeming Lord,
Here we attend thy heav'nly feast;
The bread and wine adorn the board,
And saints are with thy presence bless'd.
2 Our faith beholds thy bleeding love,
And trusts for life in Him who died;
We hope for heav'nly crowns above,
From the Redeemer crucified.

3 Though the vain world pronounce it shame,
And join to scandalize the cause,

With joy we boast our Saviour's name,
And make our triumphs in his cross.

308.

L. M. The Lord's table, considered as an emblem of the gospel feast. 1 Cor. x. 21.

1 How rich are thy provisions, Lord!
Thy table, furnish'd from above;
The fruits of life o'erspread the board,
The cup o'erflows with heav'nly love.
2 Thine ancient family, the Jews,
Were first invited to the feast;
We humbly take what they refuse,
And Gentiles thy salvation taste.

3 We are the poor, the blind, the lame;
And help was far, and death was nigh;
But at the gospel call we came,
And ev'ry want receiv'd supply.

4 From the highway that leads to hell,
From paths of darkness and despair,
Lord, we are come with thee to dwell,
Glad to enjoy thy presence here.

5 Praise to the Master of the feast;
His name our souls for ever bless:
To Christ the King, and Christ the Priest,
Let loud hosannahs fill the place.

309.

C. M. Introduction to the gospel feast ascribed to grace alone. Jeremiah xxxi. 3.

1 How sweet and awful is the place
With Christ within the doors,
While everlasting love displays
The choicest of her stores!

2 Here the rich mercy of our God
In soft compassion rolls;

Here peace and pardon, bought with blood,
Are food for guilty souls.

3 While ev'ry heart and ev'ry song
Join to admire the feast,

Each of us cries with thankful tongue,
"Lord, why was I a guest?-

4 "Why was I made to hear thy voice,
"And enter while there's room;
"When thousands make a wretched choice,
"And rather starve than come?"-

5 'Twas the same love that spread the feast,
That sweetly drew us in;
Else we had still refus'd to taste,
And perish'd in our sin.

6 Pity the nations, O our God!
Constrain the earth to come;
Send thy victorious word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.
7 We long to see thy churches full,
That all the chosen race

May with one voice, and heart, and soul,
Sing thy redeeming grace.

221

Part Fifth.

PARTICULAR OCCASIONS.

SECTION FIRST.-BEFORE AND AFTER SERMON.

310.

-112th. The presence and blessing of God implored before hearing his word. Acts x. 33.

1 THY presence, gracious God, afford;
Prepare us to receive thy word:
Now let thy voice engage our ear,
And faith be mix'd with what we hear.
Thus, Lord, thy waiting servants bless,
And crown thy gospel with success.

2 Distracting thoughts and cares remove,
And fix our hearts and hopes above;
With food divine may we be fed,
And satisfied with living bread.

Thus, Lord, thy waiting servants bless,
And crown thy gospel with success.

3 To us thy sacred word apply
With sov'reign pow'r and energy;
And may we, in thy faith and fear,
Reduce to practice what we hear.

Thus, Lord, thy waiting servants bless,
And crown thy gospel with success.

4 Father, in us thy Son reveal,
Teach us to know and do thy will;
Thy saving pow'r and love display,
And guide us to the realms of day.

Thus, Lord, thy waiting servants bless,
And crown thy gospel with success.

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