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To Thee it is owing alone

That we are permitted to sing. Assist us, we pray, to lament

The sins of the year that is past; And grant that the next may be spent Far more to Thy praise than the last!

42. Another.

LET hearts and tongues unite,
And loud thanksgivings raise;
'Tis duty, mingled with delight,
To sing the Saviour's praise.

To Him we owe our breath;

He took us from the womb, Which else had shut us up in death, And proved an early tomb.

When on the breast we hung,

Our help was in the Lord; 'Twas He first taught our infant tongue To form the lisping word.

When in our blood we lay,

He would not let us die, Because His love had fix'd a day

To bring salvation nigh.

In childhood and in youth

His

eye was on us still;

Though strangers to His love and truth, And prone to cross His will.

And since His name we knew,

How gracious has He been!
What dangers has He led us through,
What mercies have we seen!

Now through another year,
Supported by His care,

We raise our Ebenezer here,
"The Lord has help'd thus far.'

Our lot in future years

Unable to foresee,

He kindly, to prevent our fears,
Says, 'Leave it all to Me.'

Yea, Lord, we wish to cast
Our cares upon Thy breast!
Help us to praise Thee for the past,
And trust Thee for the rest.

II. ORDINANCES.

43. ON OPENING A PLACE FOR SOCIAL PRAYER.

O LORD, our languid souls inspire,
For here, we trust, Thou art!
Send down a coal of heavenly fire,
To warm each waiting heart.

Dear Shepherd of Thy people, hear;
Thy presence now display;

As Thou hast given a place for prayer,
So give us hearts to pray.

Show us some token of Thy love
Our fainting hope to raise;
And pour Thy blessings from above,
That we may render praise.

Within these walls let holy peace,
And love and concord dwell;
Here give the troubled conscience ease,
The wounded spirit heal.

The feeling heart, the melting eye,

The humbled mind bestow:

And shine upon us from on high,
To make our graces grow!

May we in faith receive Thy word,
In faith present our prayers;
And in the presence of our Lord
Unbosom all our cares!

And may the Gospel's joyful sound,
Enforced by mighty grace,
Awaken many sinners round,
To come and fill the place!

44. C. Another.

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.

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

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

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

Behold, at Thy commanding word,
We stretch the curtain and the cord;
Come Thou, and fill this wider space,
And bless us with a large increase.

Lord, we are few, but Thou art near,
Nor short Thine arm, nor deaf Thine ear;
O rend the heavens, come quickly down,
And make a thousand hearts Thine own!

45. THE LORD'S DAY.

How welcome to the saints, when press'd With six days' noise, and care, and toil, Is the returning day of rest,

Which hides them from the world awhile!

Now from the throng withdrawn away,
They seem to breathe a different air;
Composed and soften'd by the day,

All things another aspect wear.

How happy if their lot is cast

Where statedly the Gospel sounds!

The word is honey to their taste,

Renews their strength, and heals their wounds.

* Isa. liv. 2.

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