Thine holy courts are his abode,
Thou radiant palace of our God!
2 Thy walls are strength, and at thy gate
A guard of glowing seraphs wait;
Nor shall thy deep foundations move,
Fix'd on his counsels and his love.
3 Thy foes in vain designs engage;
Against his throne in vain they rage;
Like rising waves with angry roar,
That dash and die upon the shore.
4 Still shall our souls in Sion dwell;
Nor fear the wrath of earth and hell :
His arms embrace this happy ground,
Like tow'ring bulwarks built around.
5 God is our shield, and God our sun:
Swift as the fleeting moments run,
On us he sheds new beams of grace,
And we reflect his brightest praise.
OT to the terror of the Lord,
The tempest, fire, and smoke;
Not to the thunder of that word,
Which God on Sinai spoke;
2 But we are come to Sion's hill,
The city of our God,
Where words of grace declare his will,
And spread his love abroad.
3 Here, the innumerable throng Of angels clothed in light;
And blood-bought souls in sweetest song-
Meet our believing sight.
4 We meet the blest assembly here,
Whose names are writ in heaven!
And hear the Judge of all declare
Our vilest sins forgiven.
5 Here Christ, our living cov'nant Head,
His glorious grace reveals;
And with the precious blood he shed
Jehovah's promise seals,—
6 The promise of eternal bliss,
Of glory and of rest:
Thus we who dwell where Jesus is,
Must be for ever blest.
GOD of grace! how bright and fair
The traces of thy footsteps are!
With long desire the spirit faints,
Till we assemble with thy Saints.
2 Our souls would rest in thine abode; Our panting hearts cry out for God: Our God! our King! why should we be Far off from bliss, far off from thee?
3 Bless'd are the Saints who sit on high,
Around thy throne of majesty:
Thy brightest glories shine above,
And all their work is praise and love.
4 Bless'd are our souls that find a place
Within the footsteps of thy grace;
Here we behold thy gentle rays,
And see thy face, and sing thy praise.
5 Cheerful we walk with growing strength,
And hope to meet in heaven at length;
Then we'll before thy throne appear,
And join in nobler worship there.
GLORIOUS place! where Jesus' feet,
Among his Saints are seen;
Hither our souls shall oft retreat,
To pastures fresh and green.
2 Here gospel glories all divine,
Meet our astonished view;
In Jesus' countenance they shine
With lustre ever new.
3 Oft have our spirits here been fill'd
With rapture and delight,
When our redeeming God has smiled,
O captivating sight!
4 If such the glories of his feet,
Where clouds may intervene ;
What are the glories of his seat,
Where not a cloud is seen?
5 Angelic harps melodious sound, Thro' all the realms on high ;
Among that throng may we be found,
And with them ever vie!
E to Jehovah's seat repair,
Where Saints delight to meet ;
And hope to see our Jesus here,
To worship at his feet.
2 'Tis heaven to gaze upon his face,
To know his sov'reign love;
Receive supplies of special grace,
And roam by faith above.
3 He knows our wants, and rich supplies His hand will here afford;
Up to his throne we send our cries,
And listen to his word.
4 Lord! meet us here, and feast each soul
With knowledge and delight;
Our sin, and fear, and foes control,
And guide us in thy light.
BELOVED Saviour! faithful Friend!
The joy of all thy cross's train!
Reflect thy grace, on us descend,
Nor let us here repair in vain.
2 In vain we meet to praise and pray, If thou thine influence withhold; Our souls are pris'ners to our clay,
Till we our God by faith behold.
3 Then let us know thy healing beams,
And view thy loving, lovely face;
Yes! fill with truth and grace these means,
And own thy helpless blood-bought race.
4 Here let us see thee, Prince of peace!
Thy former mercies here make known :
Breathe! breathe on us a gale of grace,
And pour celestial blessings down.
5 In faith, we for thy coming wait,
And long to know thee as thou art
Lo here we cluster at thy feet,
And welcome thee to ev'ry heart.
LORD! in thy presence we appear,
As happy Simeon came;
And hope to meet our Jesus here;
O make our joys the same!
2 With what divine and vast delight,
The aged Saint was fill'd,
When fondly in his wither'd arms
He clasp'd the Holy Child!
3 "Now I can leave the world," he cried, "Behold thy servant dies;
"I've seen thy great salvation, Lord,
"Now close my peaceful eyes."
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