SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC WORSHIP.
The Joy of Social Worship.
1 How good and pleasant is the sight.
How great the bliss they share,
When Christ's assembled flock unite
In acts of social prayer!
God thither, with paternal care,
His face benignant bends;
And Jesus, by his spirit there,
On faithful hearts descends.
2 To such, by hallowed lips expressed
His grace confirms his word,
As once Cornelius' house it blest,
From holy Peter heard:
On prayer and praise, in faith preferred,
His heavenly dew is shed;
And he to all, who come prepared,
Dispenses heavenly bread.
3 To God, adored in ages past,
Enthroned in majesty,-
To God, whose worship aye shall last
Throughout eternity,-
To thee, Great God, we bend the knee,
And in the Holy Ghost,
Through Christ, all glory give to thee,
With all thy heavenly host.
The Joy of Social Devotion.
10, IT is joy in one to meet
Whom one communion blends,
Council to hold in converse sweet.
And talk as Christian friends.
2 'Tis joy to think the angel train,
Who 'mid heaven's temple shine,
To seek our earthly temples deign,
And in our anthems join.
3 But chief, 't is joy to think that He,
To whom his church is dear,
Delights her gathered flock to see,
Her joint devotions hear.
4 Then who would choose to walk abroad,
While here such joys are given?
“This is indeed the house of God,
And this the gate of heaven!"
For a Prayer Meeting.
1 FATHER, hear us when we pray,
Look in mercy from above;
Turn not, Lord, thy face away,
Hear, and grant thy pardoning love.
2 In the name of Christ we come,
Asking grace and seeking peace,
Raise our hearts to heaven, our home,
And from worldly cares release.
3 Pure and holy may we be,
Far removed all vain desire,
From all hate and envy free,
Let our souls to thee aspire.
4 While we love the Saviour's name,
And his words with zeal obey,
His sweet promise we may claim;
"He will meet us when we pray."
1 LET us join, as God commands,
Let us join our hearts and hands,
Help to gain our calling's hope;
Help to build each other up;
Carry on the Christian's strife;
Walk in holiness of life;
Faithfully our gifts improve
For the sake of him we love ;-
2 Still forget the things behind;
Follow Christ in heart and mind;
Toward the mark unwearied press;
Seize the crown of righteousness,
While we walk with God in light,
God our hearts will still unite;
Dearest fellowship we prove—
Fellowship in Jesus, love.
Still, O Lord, our faith increase;
Cleanse from all unrighteousness:
Thee th' unholy cannot see:
Make, O make us meet for thee:
Every vile affection kill;
Root out every seed of ill;
Utterly abolish sin;
Write thy law of love within.
Call to Social Worship
10, COME, and let th' assembly all
To serve our God unite,
And, mindful of the social call,
Partake the social rite.
2 In token of the common vow,
Be ours, with one consent,
The worship of the lowly brow,
And knees devoutly bent!
3 But chief, inflamed with heavenly fire,
Devotion's better part,
Be ours instinct with one desire,
The worship of the heart!
4 Let each, let all, their prayers above,
In one oblation bend,
1 FATHER, united by thy grace,
And each to each endeared
With confidence we seek thy face,
And know our prayer is heard.
2 Still let us own our common Lord,
And bear his easy yoke,
A band of love, a three-fold cord
Which never can be broke.
3 Make us into one spirit drink ;
Baptize into one name;
And let us always kindly think,
And sweetly speak the same.
4 Touched by the loadstone of thy love,
Let all our hearts agree;
And ever towards each other move,
And ever move towards thee.
For Brotherly Love.
1 GOD of love, we look to thee;
Let us in thy Son agree;
Show to us the Prince of Peace;
Bid our jars forever cease.
By thy reconciling love,
Every stumbling-block remove;
Each to each unite, endear;
Come, and spread thy banner here.
2 Make us of one heart and mind,
Courteous, pitiful, and kind;
Lowly, meek, in thought and word,
Altogether like our Lord.
Let us for each other care;
Each the other's burden bear;
To thy church the pattern give;
Show how true believers live.
3 Free from anger and from pride,
Let us thus in God abide ;
All the depths of love express,
All the heights of holiness.
Let us, then, with joy remove
To the family above;
On the wings of angels fly;-
Show how true believers die.
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