3 Let sinful sweets be all forgot,
And earth grow less in our esteem
Christ and his love fill every thought,
And faith and hope be fixed on him.
4 Whilst he is absent from our sight,
'Tis to prepare our souls a place,
That we may dwell in heavenly light,
And live forever near his face.
Room at the Lord's Table.
1 MILLIONS of souls, in glory now,
Were fed and feasted here;
And millions more, still on the way,
Around the board appear.
2 Yet is his house and heart so large
That millions more may come;
Nor could the whole assembled world
O'erfill the spacious room.
3 All things are ready; come away,
Nor weak excuses frame;
Crowd to your places at the feast,
And bless the Founder's name.
Christ's Love our Example.
1 JESUS, the Friend of man',
Invites us to his board;
The welcome summons we obey,
And own our gracious Lord.
2 Here we survey that love
Which spoke in every breath,
Prompted each action of his life,
And triumphed in his death.
3 Here let our powers unite
His honored name to raise ;
Let grateful joy fill every mind,
And every voice be praise.
4 One faith, one hope, one Lord,
One God alone we know ;
Brethren we are; let every heart
With kind affections glow.
5 Warmed with our Master's love,
And thy unmeasured grace,
Lord! let our thankful hearts expand,
And all mankind embrace.
Invitations to the Table.
1 OUR heavenly Father calls,
And Christ invites us near;
With both, our friendship shall be sweet,
And our communion dear.
2 God pities all our griefs;
He pardons every day;
Almighty to protect our souls,
And wise to guide our way.
3 Jesus, our living Head,
We bless thy faithful care;
Our Advocate before the throne,
And our Forerunner there!
4 Here fix my roving heart!
Here wait my warmest love!
Till the communion be complete
In nobler scenes above.
1 O GOD! accept the sacred hour
Which we to thee have given;
And let this hallowed scene have power
To raise our souls to heaven.
2 Still let us hold, till life departs,
The precepts of thy Son;
Nor let our thoughtless, thankless hearts
Forget what he has done.
3 His true disciples may we live,
From all corruption free,
And humbly learn like him to give
Our powers, our wills to thee.
4 And oft, along life's dangerous way,
To smooth our passage through,
Wilt thou, on this thy holy day,
For us this scene renew.
Presence of Christ invoked.
1 COME, thou desire of all thy saints,
Our humble strains attend;
While, with our praises and complaints,
Low at thy feet we bend.
2 When we thy wondrous glories hear,
And all thy sufferings trace,
What sweetly awful scenes appear!
What rich, unbounded grace!
3 How should our songs, like those above,
With warm devotion rise!
How should our souls, on wings of love,
Mount upward to the skies!
4 Dear Savior, let thy glory shine,
And fill thy dwellings here;
Till life, and love, and joy divine,
A heaven on earth appear.
Children received by Christ.
1 BEHOLD what condescending love
Jesus on earth displays!
To babes and sucklings he extends
The riches of his grace!
2 He still the ancient promise keeps,
To our forefathers given;
Young children in his arms he takes,
And calls them heirs of heaven.
3 Forbid them not whom Jesus calls,
Nor dare the claim resist,
Since his own lips to us declare
Of such will heaven consist.
4 With flowing tears, and thankful hearts,
We give them up to thee;
Reccive them, Lord, into thine arms;
Thine may they ever be.
1 SEE Israel's gentle Shepherd stand,
With all-engaging charms;
Hark! how he calls the tender lambs,
And folds them in his arms
2 Permit them to approach,' he cries,
'Nor scorn their humble name;
For 'twas to bless such souls as these
The Lord of angels came.'
3 We bring them, Lord, by fervent prayer,
And yield them up to thee;
Joyful that we ourselves are thine,
Thine let our offspring be!
4 Ye little flock, with pleasure hear;
Ye children, seek his face;
And fly with transport to receive
The blessings of his grace.
5 If orphans they are left behind,
Thy guardian care we trust;
That care shall heal our bleeding hearts
If weeping o'er their dust.
Children commended to Christ.
1 SAVIOR! Who thy flock art feeding
With the shepherd's kindest care,
All the feeble gently leading,
While the lambs thy bosom share;
2 Now, these little ones receiving,
Fold them in thy gracious arm;
There, we know thy word believing-
Only there, secure from harm.
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