726

C. M.

O THOU, whose own vast temple stands,
Built over earth and sea,

Accept the walls that human hands
Have raised to worship Thee.

2 Lord, from Thine inmost glory send,
Within these walls t' abide,

The peace that dwelleth without end
Serenely by Thy side.

3 May erring minds, that worship here, Be taught the better way;

And they who mourn, and they who fear, Be strengthened as they pray.

4 May faith grow firm, and love grow warm, And pure devotion rise,

While, round these hallowed walls the storm Of earth-born passion dies.

727

W. C. Bryant.

L. M.

JESUS, where'er Thy people meet,
There they behold Thy mercy-seat;
Where'er they seek Thee, Thou art found,
And every place is hallow'd ground:

2 For Thou, within no walls confined,
Inhabitest the humble mind;

Such ever bring Thee where they come,
And, going, take Thee to their home.

3 Yet everywhere Thou guid'st Thine own
To raise for Thee an earthly throne;
And where Thy Name Thou dost record,
There Thou wilt come and bless them, Lord.

4 Dear shepherd of Thy chosen few,
Thy former mercies here renew ;
Here to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of Thy saving name.

5 Here may we prove the power of prayer
To strengthen faith and sweeten care,
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all heaven before our eyes.

6 Behold, at Thy commanding word,
We stretch the curtain and the cord;
Come, with Thy glory fill the place,
And bless us with a large increase.
W. Cowper, Ab.

728

L. M.

COME, Jesus, from the sapphire throne, Where Thy redeem'd behold Thy face, Enter this temple, now Thine own,

And let Thy glory fill the place.

2 We praise Thee that to-day we see
Its sacred wall before Thee stand;
'T is Thine for us, 't is ours for Thee,
Reared by Thy kind assisting hand.

3 Oft as returns the day of rest,

Let heartfelt worship here ascend; With Thine own joy fill every breast, With Thine own power Thy word attend.

4 Here, in the dark and sorrowing day,

Bid Thou the throbbing heart be still; Oh, wipe the mourner's tears away, And give new strength to meet Thy will.

5 When round this board Thine own shall meet,

And keep the feast of dying love, Be our communion ever sweet,

With Thee, and with Thy Church above. 6 Come, faithful Shepherd, feed Thy sheep; In Thine own arms the lambs enfold; Give help to climb the heavenward steep, Till Thy full glory we behold.

729

CHRIST is our corner-stone,
On Him alone we build :

With His true saints alone

R. Palmer. Ab.

6,6,6,6,8,8.

The courts of heav'n are filled; On His great love our hopes we place, Of present grace and joys above.

2 Oh, then with hymns of praise These hallowed courts shall ring; Our voices we will raise,

The Three in One to sing; And thus proclaim in joyful song Both loud and long, that glorious name.

3 Here, gracious God, do Thou For evermore draw nigh; Accept each faithful vow,

And mark each suppliant sigh;
In copious shower, on all who pray,
Each holy day, Thy blessing pour.

4 Here may we gain from heaven
The grace which we implore,
And may that grace, once given,
Be with us evermore,

Until that day when all the blest

To endless rest are called away.

Anon. (Latin, 6th or 7th Cent.) Tr. J. Chandler.

730

IN loud exalted strains,

6,6,6,6,8,8.

The King of glory praise :
O'er heav'n and earth He reigns,
Thro' everlasting days;

But Zion, with His presence blest,
Is His delight, His chosen rest.

2 O King of glory, come

And with Thy favor crown
This temple as Thy home,

This people as Thy own;

Beneath this roof vouchsafe to show
How God can dwell with men below.

3 Now let Thine ear attend
Our supplicating cries;
Now let our praise ascend,
Accepted, to the skies;

Now let Thy Gospel's joyful sound
Spread its celestial influence round.

4 Here may the listening throng
Imbibe Thy truth and love;
Here Christians join the song
Of seraphim above;

Till all who humbly seek Thy face
Rejoice in Thy abounding grace.

731

B. Francis.

88,7s. 61.

CHRIST is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and corner-stone,
Chosen of the Lord, and precious,
Binding all the church in one;

Holy Zion's help for ever,

And her confidence alone.

2 All that dedicated city,
Dearly loved of God on high,
In exultant jubilation

Pours perpetual melody;
God the One in Three adoring
In glad hymns eternally.

3 To this temple, where we call Thee,
Come, O Lord of hosts, to-day :
With Thy wonted loving-kindness,
Hear Thy people as they pray;
And Thy fullest benediction
Shed within its walls alway.

4 Here vouchsafe to all Thy servants
What they ask of Thee to gain,
What they gain from Thee for ever
With the blessed to retain,
And hereafter in Thy glory

Evermore with Thee to reign.

Anon. (Latin, 6th or 7th Cent.) Tr. J. M. Neale.

(This hymn is Part II. of "Blessed City, heavenly Salem," No. 779.)

732

ETERNAL Source of every joy,

Well may Thy praise our lips employ,
While in Thy temple we appear,

L. M.

Whose goodness crowns the circling year. 2 Wide as the wheels of nature roll,

Thy hand supports and guides the whole; The sun is taught by Thee to rise, And darkness when to veil the skies. 3 The flowery spring, at Thy command, Perfumes the air and paints the land; The summer rays with vigor shine, To raise the corn and cheer the vine. 4 Thy hand in autumn richly pours Through all our coasts redundant stores; And winters, softened by Thy care, No more a face of horror wear.