HOW glorious is Thy word, O God,
'Tis for our light and guidance given,
It sheds a lustre all abroad,
And points the path to bliss and heaven. 2 It fills the soul with sweet delight, And quickens its inactive powers; Sets all our wandering footsteps right, Displays Thy love, and kindles ours. 3 Its promises rejoice our hearts,
Its doctrines are divinely true;
Knowledge and pleasure it imparts,
Yields comfort and instruction too.
III. THE LORD'S DAY.
204. The Lord's Day Morning.
AN NOTHER six-days' work is done;
Another sabbath is begun :
Return my soul, enjoy thy rest,
Improve the day which God hath blest.
2 O that our thoughts and thanks may rise,
As grateful incense, to the skies!
And draw from heaven that sweet repose,
Which none but he that feels it knows!
3 This heavenly calm within the breast,
Is the dear pledge of glorious rest,
Which for the church of God remains,
The end of cares, the end of pains.
4 In holy duties let the day,
In holy pleasures, pass away:
How sweet, a sabbath thus to spend,
In hope of one that ne'er shall end!
205. The Resurrection of Christ.
1 CHRIST, the Lord, is risen to day,
Sons of men, and angels say!
Raise your songs and triumphs high:
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply!
2 Love's redeeming work is done;
Fought the fight, the battle won:
Lo! our sun's eclipse is o'er!
Lo! he sets in blood no more!
3 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal;
Christ hath burst the gates of hell:
Death in vain forbids His rise;
Christ hath opened Paradise.
4 Lives again our glorious King:
Where, O death, is now thy sting?
Made like Him, like Him we rise;
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies!
5 Hail! the Lord of earth and heaven!
Praise to Thee by both be given!
Thee we greet triumphant now:
Hail! the Resurrection, Thou!
The Dwelling-place of God.
HOW lovely are Thy dwellings, Lord,
From noise and trouble free
How beautiful the sweet accord
Of souls that pray to Thee!
2 Lord God of hosts, that reign'st on high! They are the truly blest, Who only will on Thee rely,
In Thee alone will rest.
3. They pass refresh'd the thirsty vale,
The dry and barren ground,
As through a fruitful, watery dale,
Where springs and showers abound.
4 They journey on from strength to strength, With joy and gladsome cheer,
Till all before our God at length
In Zion do appear.
For the Sabbath Day.
THE Lord is rich and merciful!
The Lord is very kind!
Oh! come to Him, come now to Him,
With a believing mind.
His comforts, they shall strengthen thee
Like flowing waters cool;
And He shall for thy spirit be
A fountain ever full.
2 The Lord is glorious and strong,
Our God is very high;
Oh! trust in Him, trust now in Him,
And have security.
He shall be to thee like the sea,
And thou shalt surely feel
His wind, that bloweth healthily
Thy sicknesses to heal.
3 The Lord is wonderful and wise,
As all the ages tell;
Oh! learn of Him, learn now of Him,
That it with thee be well.
And with His light thou shalt be blest,
Therein to work and live;
And He shall be to thee a rest
When evening hours arrive.
Sabbath Evening.
another Sabbath's close,
Ere again we seek repose,
Lord, our song ascends to Thee,
At Thy feet we bow the knee.
2 For the mercies of the day,
For this rest upon our way,
Thanks to Thee alone be given,
Lord of earth and King of heaven.
3 Whilst this thorny path we tread,
May Thy love our footsteps lead;
When our journey here is past,
May we rest with Thee at last.
4 Let these earthly sabbaths prove
Foretastes of our joys above;
While their steps Thy children bend
To the rest which knows no end.
209. The Close of the Lord's Day.
ANCIENT of Ages! here we bend
Thine awful throne;
Glad homage unto Thee we bring,
For Thou art God alone!
2 Lord God Omniscient! doth Thine eye
Behold our inmost mind:
And on transgression's wayward sons,
O can Thy glance be kind?
3 Bid Mercy's fountains open up
To us their streams divine;
Jesus, bid pardon freely flow
Through that rich blood of Thine.
4 The gospel's sweetly peaceful voice
Hath reach'd our ears to day-
Let none reject the offer'd love,
None turn in scorn away.
5 Upon Thine altar we would place
Contrition's broken heart;
Take it, and bind us to Thyself,
So that we ne'er depart.
6 Now, though the evening's shades have
The final, grateful song,
Lord! let Thy Spirit, in our hearts,
Some heavenly notes prolong.
210. Sabbath Evensong.
BLEST
be the God of love,
Who gave us light to-day,
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