ERECTION OF CHURCHES.

959

LAYING A CORNER-STONE.

The sure Foundation.

C. M.

BEH

EHOLD the sure Foundation-stone
Which God in Zion lays,

To build our heavenly hopes upon,
And his eternal praise.

2 Chosen of God, to sinners dear,
We now adore thy Name;
We trust our whole salvation here,
Nor can we suffer shame.

3 The foolish builders, scribe and priest, Reject it with disdain;

Yet on this Rock the church sh ll rest,
And envy rage in vain.

4 What though the gates of hell withstood, Yet must this building rise;

'Tis thine own work, almighty God, And wondrous in our eyes.

960

12th P. M. 76, 76, 78, 76.

The living Name.

HOU, who hast in Zion laid

THO

The true Foundation-stone,

And with those a cov'nant made

Who build on that alone: Hear us, Architect divine!

Great Builder of thy church below!

Now upon thy servants shine,

Who seek thy praise to show.

2 Earth is thine; her thousand hill?
Thy mighty hand sustains;
Heaven thy awful presence fills;
O'er all thy glory reigns:

Yet the place of all prepared,
By regal David's favour'd son,
Thy peculiar blessing shared,

And stood thy chosen throne.

3 We, like Jesse's son, would raise
A temple to the Lord;

Sound throughout its courts his praise,
His saving Name record;

Dedicate a house to Him

Who once, in mortal weakness shrined, Sorrow'd, suffer'd, to redeem,

To rescue, all mankind.

4 Father, Son, and Spirit, send
The consecrating flame;
Now in majesty descend;

Inscribe the living Name:
That great Name by which we live,

Now write on this accepted stone;
Us into thy hands receive;

Our temple make thy throne.

961

Seeking a tabernacle.

L. M

THEN to the exiled seer were given

Those rapt'rous views of highest heaven,

All glorious though the visions were,
Yet he beheld no temple there.

2 The new Jerusalem on high
Hath one pervading sanctity;
No sin to mourn, no grief to mar,-
God and the Lamb its temple are.

3 But we, frail sojourners below,
The pilgrim-heirs of guilt and wo,
Must seck a tabernacle where

Our scatter'd souls may blend in prayer.

4 O Thou! who o'er the cherubim Didst shine in glories veil'd and dim, With purer light our temple cheer, And dwell in unveil'd glory here. 962

God's guardian presence.

L. M.

HIS stone to thee, in faith, we lay;

TH

This temple, Lord, to thee we raise; Thine eye be open night and day,

To guard this house of prayer and praise. ? Within these walls let heavenly peace And holy love and concord dwell; Here give the burden'd conscience ease, And here the wounded spirit heal. 3 But will, indeed, Jehovah deign Here to abide, no transient guest? Here will our great Redeemer reign, And here the Holy Spirit rest? 4 Ne'er let thy glory hence depart : Yet choose not, Lord, this shrine alone; Thy Spirit dwell in every heart,— In every bosom fix thy throne.

963

5th P. M. 4 lines 7s

Jesus Christ the corner-stone.

N this stone, now laid with prayer,

Ever, Lord, thy Name be known,
Where we lay this corner-stone.
2 Let thy holy Child, who came
Man from error to reclaim,
And for sinners to atone,
Bless, with thee, this corner-stone.
3 May thy Spirit here give rest
To the heart by sin oppress'd,
And the seeds of truth be sown,
Where we lay this corner-stone.

4 Open wide, O God, thy door,
For the outcast and the poor,
Who can call no house their own,
Where we lay this corner-stone.
5 By wise master-builders square,
Here be living stones prepared
For the temple near thy throne ;-
Jesus Christ its corner-stone.

964

DEDICATION.

3d P. M. 4 6s & 2 8s.

Invoking God's presence and blessing.
REAT King of glory, come,

This temple as thy home,

This people as thine own:
Beneath this roof, O deign to show
How God can dwell with men below.
2 Here may thine ears attend
Our interceding cries,
And grateful praise ascend,

Like incense, to the skies:

Here may thy soul-converting word
With faith be preach'd, in faith be heard
3 Here may our unborn sons
And daughters sound thy praise,
And shine, like polish'd stones,

Through long-succeeding days:

Here, Lord, display thy saving power,
While temples stand and men adore
4 Here may the list'ning throng
Receive thy truth in love:
Here Christians join the song
Of the redeem'd above;

Till all, who humbly seek thy face,
Rejoice in thy abounding grace.

965

G

The honour and safety of a nation.
REAT is the Lord our God,
And let his praise be great;
He makes his churches his abode,
His most delightful seat.

2 These temples of his grace,
How beautiful they stand :-
The honours of our native place,
And bulwarks of our land.
3 In Zion God is known,
A refuge in distress;
How bright has his salvation shone
Through all her palaces!

4 In every new distress

We'll to his house repair;

S. M.

We'll think upon his wondrous grace,
And seek deliv'rance there.

966

5th P. M. 4 lines 73.

Prayer and praise.

LORD of hosts! to thee we raise

Here a house of prayer and praise. Thou thy people's hearts prepare, Here to meet for praise and prayer. 2 Let the living here be fed With thy word, the heavenly bread: Here, in hope of glory blest, May the dead be laid to rest. 3 Here to thee a temple stand, While the sea shall gird the land: Here reveal thy mercy sure, While the sun and moon endure. 4 Hallelujah!-earth and sky To the joyful sound reply: Hallelujah! hence ascend

Prayer and praise till time shall end.