His candlestick has been remov'd
From churches once privileg'd thus;
But though we unworthy have prov'd,
It still is continu'd to us.
4 For so many mercies receiv'd,
Alas! what returns have we made?
His Spirit we often have griev'd,
And evil for good have repaid:
How well it becomes us to cry,
"Oh! who is a God like to thee?
"Who passest iniquities by,
"And plungest them deep in the sea!"
5 To Jesus, who sits on the throne,
Our best hallelujahs we bring ;
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.
1 LET hearts and tongues unite,
And loud thanksgivings raise:
'Tis duty mingl'd with delight,
To sing the Saviour's praise.
2 To him we owe our breath,
He took us from the womb,
Which else had shut us up in death,
And prov'd an early tomb.
3 When on the breast we hung,
Our help was in the Lord;
'Twas he first taught our infant tongue
To form the lisping word.
4 When in our blood we lay,
He would not let us die,
Because his love had fix'd a day
To bring salvation nigh.
5 In childhood and in youth,
His eye was on us still;
Though strangers to his love and truth,
And prone to cross his will.
6 And since his name we knew,
How gracious has he been;
What dangers has he led us through,
What mercies have we seen!
7 Now through another year,
Supported by his care,
We raise our Ebenezer here,
"The Lord has help'd thus far."
8 Our lot in future years
Unable to foresee,
He kindly to prevent our fears,
Says, "Leave it all to me."
9 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.
XLIII. On opening a Place for social Prayer.
1 O LORD, our languid souls inspire,
For here, we trust, thou art!
Send down a coal of heav'nly fire,
To warm each waiting heart.
2 Dear Shepherd of thy people, hear,
Thy presence now display;
As thou hast giv'n a place for pray'r,
So give us hearts to pray.
3 Show us some token of thy love,
Our fainting hope to raise ;
And pour thy blessings from above,
That we may render praise.
4. Within these walls let holy peace,
And love, and concord dwell;
Here give the troubled conscience ease,
The wounded spirit heal.
5 The feeling heart, the melting eye,
The humbled mind bestow;
And shine upon us from on high,
To make our graces grow!
6 May we in faith receive thy word,
In faith present our pray❜rs;
And, in the presence of our Lord,
Unbosom all our cares.
And may the Gospel's joyful sound,
Enforc'd by mighty grace,
Awaken many sinners round,
To come and fill the place,
1 JESUS, where'er thy people meet,
There they behold thy mercy-seat;
Where'er they seek thee, thou art found,
And ev'ry place is hallow'd ground.
2 For thou, within no walls confin'd,
Inhabitest the humble mind ;
Such ever bring thee where they come,
And going, take thee to their home.
3 Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few,
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here, to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of thy saving name.
4 Here may we prove the pow'r of pray'r,
To strengthen faith and sweeten care;
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all heav'n before our eyes.
5 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.
6 Lord, we are few, but thou art near;
Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;
Oh! rend the heav'ns, come quickly down,
And make a thousand hearts thine own!
XLV. The Lord's Day.
1 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 a while!
2 Now from the throng withdrawn away,
They seem to breathe a diff'rent air;
Compos'd and soft'ned by the day,
All things another aspect wear.
3 How happy if their lot is cast
Where statedly the Gospel sounds! The word is honey to their taste, [wounds! Renews their strength, and heals their
4 Though pinch'd with poverty at home,
With sharp afflictions daily fed,
It makes amends, if they can come
To God's own house for heav'nly bread!
5 With joy they hasten to the place
Where they their Saviour oft have met; And while they feast upon his grace, Their burdens and their griefs forget.
6 This favour'd lot my friends is ours, May we the privilege improve, And find these consecrated hours
Sweet earnests of the joys above!
7 We thank thee for thy day, O Lord:
Here we thy promis'd presence seek ;
Open thine hand, with blessings stor'd,
And give us manna for the week.
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