3 When I can say that God is mine,
When I can see thy glories shine,
I tread the world beneath my feet,
And all that men call rich and great.

4 Send comfort down from thy right hand,
To cheer me in this barren land;
And in thy temple let me know
The joys that from thy presence flow.

33

C. M.

WATTS.

Sincerity and Hypocrisy.

1 GOD is a Spirit, just and wise,
He sees our inmost mind;

In vain to heaven we raise our cries,
And leave our souls behind.

2 Nothing but truth before his throne
With honor can appear;
The painted hypocrites are known
Through the disguise they wear.

3 Their lifted eyes salute the skies,
Their bending knees the ground;

But God abhors the sacrifice

Where not the heart is found.

4 Lord, search my thoughts, and try my ways, And make my soul sincere;

Then shall I stand before thy face,

And find acceptance there.

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35

Engagedness in Devotion.

1 LORD, before thy presence come,
Bow we down with holy fear;
Call our erring footsteps home,
Let us feel that thou art near.

2 Wandering thoughts and languid powers
Come not where devotion kneels;

Let the soul expand her stores,
Glowing with the joy she feels.

3 At the portals of thine house,
We resign our earth-born cares:
Nobler thoughts our souls engross,
Songs of praise and fervent prayers.

1 THE offerings to thy throne which rise,

Of mingled praise and prayer,

Are but a worthless sacrifice

Unless the heart is there.

36

2 Upon thine all-discerning ear
Let no vain words intrude;
No tribute but the vow sincere,
The tribute of the good.

3 My offerings will indeed be blest,
If sanctified by thee;

If thy pure spirit touch my breast
With its own purity.

4 O, may that spirit warm my heart
To piety and love,

And to life's lowly vale impart

Some rays from heaven above.

7s. M.

Humble Worship.

1 WHEN before thy throne we kneel,
Filled with awe and holy fear,
Teach us, O our God, to feel,

All thy sacred presence near.

BOWRING.

2 Check each proud and wandering thought
When on thy great name we call ;
Man is nought, is less than nought;
Thou, our God, art all in all.

3 Weak, imperfect creatures, we
In this vale of darkness dwell;
Yet presume to look to thee
'Midst thy light ineffable.

4 O receive the praise that dares
Seek thy heaven-exalted throne;
Bless our offerings, hear our prayers,
Infinite and Holy One!

37

L. M.

Envocation.

PIERPONT.

1 O, Bow thine ear, Eternal One;
On thee, our heart adoring calls;
To thee, the followers of thy Son
Bend low within these sacred walls.

2 Here let thy holy days be kept,

And be this place to worship given,
Like that bright spot where Jacob slept, –
The house of God, the gate of heaven.

3 Here may thine honor dwell; and here,
As incense, let thy children's prayer,
From contrite hearts and lips sincere,
Rise on the still and holy air.

4 Here be thy praise devoutly sung;
Here let thy truth beam forth to save,
As when, of old, thy Spirit hung,

On wings of light, o'er Jordan's wave.

5 And when the lips, that with thy name
Are vocal now, to dust shall turn,
On others may devotion's flame
Be kindled here, and purely burn.

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39

BRYANT.

C. M.

Emploring the Compassion of God.

1 O God, whose dread and dazzling brow
Love never yet forsook,

On those who seek thy presence now,
In deep compassion look ;-

2 For many a frail and erring heart
Is in thy holy sight,

And feet too willing to depart
From the plain way of right.

3 Yet, pleased the humble prayer to hear,
And kind to all that live,

Thou, when thou seest the contrite tear,
Art ready to forgive.

4 Lord, aid us with thy heavenly grace
Our truest bliss to find,

Nor sternly judge our erring race,
So feeble and so blind.

C. M.

BISHOP HEBER.

The Seed of the Word.

1 O God, by whom the seed is given,

By whom the harvest blest;

Whose word, like manna showered from heaven,

Is planted in our breast;·

.