Hymns for Christian Devotion

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4 Let all our souls unite
A grateful song to raise;
Pleasure and love fill every mind,
And every voice be praise.

693. L. M. Watts.

A View of the Cross.

1 When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ, my Lord;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.

3 See from his head, his hands, his feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down!
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet?
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

694. C. M. Lutheran Coll.

Close of Communion Service.

1 Pity the nations, O our God,
Constrain the earth to come;
Send thy victorious word abroad,
And bring the strangers home.

2 We long to see thy churches full,
That all thy faithful race
May with one voice, and heart, and soul,
Sing thy redeeming grace.

695. 8s. & 7s. M. Anonymous.

The Same.

1 From the table now retiring,
Which for us the Lord hath spread,
May our souls, refreshment finding,
Grow in all things like our Head.

2 His example by beholding,
May our lives his image bear;
Him our Lord and Master calling,
His commands may we revere.

3 Love to God and man displaying,
Walking steadfast in his way,--
Joy attend us in believing!
Peace from God, through endless day!

DEDICATIONS; ORDINATIONS; INSTALLATIONS.

696. L. M. Montgomery.

On Laying the Corner-stone of a Church.

1 This stone to thee in faith we lay,--
We build the temple, Lord, to thee,
Thine eye be open night and day,
To guard this house from error free.

2 Here, when thy people seek thy face,
And dying sinners pray to live,
Hear thou, in heaven thy dwelling-place,
And when thou hearest, Lord, forgive.

3 Here, when thy messengers proclaim
The blessed gospel of thy Son,
Still by the power of his great name
Be mighty signs and wonders done.

4 When children's voices raise the song,
Hosanna! to their Heavenly King,
Let heaven with earth the strain prolong;
Hosanna! let the angels sing.

5 Thy glory never hence depart;
Yet choose not, Lord, this house alone;
Thy kingdom come to every heart;
In every bosom fix thy throne.

697. L. M. Willis.

Dedication Hymn.

1 The perfect world by Adam trod,
Was the first temple,--built by God;
His fiat laid the corner-stone,
And heaved its pillars, one by one.

2 He hung its starry roof on high,--
The broad, illimitable sky;
He spread its pavement, green and bright
And curtained it with morning light.

3 The mountains in their places stood,--
The sea, the sky,--and "all was good;"
And when its first pure praises rang,
The "morning stars together sang."

4 Lord! 'tis not ours to make the sea,
And earth and sky a house for thee;
But in thy sight our offering stands,
A humbler temple, "made with hands."

698. L. M. Pierpont.

The Same.

1 O, bow thine ear, Eternal One!
On thee our heart adoring calls;
To thee the followers of thy Son
Have raised and now devote these 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!

699. 7s. M. E. H. Chapin.

The Same.

1 Father, lo! we consecrate
Unto thee this house and shrine,
Oh! may Jesus visit here,
As he did in Palestine.
Here may blind eyes see his light,
Deaf ears hear his accents sweet,
And we, like those groups of old,
Sit and linger at his feet.

2 And to learn of faith and love,
Strong in sorrow, pain and loss,
May we come and find them here,
In the garden, on the cross.
Like the spices that enfold
Him we love in rich perfume,
May our thoughts embalm him here,
While he slumbers in the tomb.

3 When we watch by shrouded hopes,
Weeping at death's marble door,
May the angels meet us here--
Lo! your Christ has gone before!
And while we stand "looking up,"
In our faith and wonder lost,
Here send down thy Spirit's power,
Like the tongues of Pentecost.

700. L. M. Sir J. E. Smith.

God's Temple in the Heart.

1 Who shall a temple build for him,
Who fills the heaven of heavens alone?
Who shall exalt his glorious name,
Fixed in his everlasting throne?

2 Yet many a lowly fane shall rise,
Which God himself will not disdain:
He will accept the sacrifice;
Nor shall the offering e'er be vain.

3 No gorgeous dome, nor boastful vow,
Can e'er find favor in his sight:
The humble votary, meek and low,--
The holy soul, are his delight.

4 On these his grace and mercy rest,
Nor from their shrines will he depart:
His temple is the righteous breast;
His altar is the pious heart.

701. H. M. O. A. Skinner.

Dedication Hymn.

1 Thou Fount of love and grace,
Whose throne is fixed on high,
Unveil thy smiling face,
And to our souls draw nigh;
And let our prayers and praise arise,
Like grateful incense to the skies.

2 This house to thee we give--
Thine may it ever be--
Here bid the sinner live,
Here set the captive free,
Here let thy word its beams display
And safely guide to endless day.

3 Here may the stricken heart
By truth be cheered and blessed,
And here thy grace impart,
To all by grief oppressed--
And streams of peace and plenty flow,
To all who seek thy joy to know.

4 Long may these walls resound
With thy salvation, Lord,
And grace to all abound,
Who hear thy holy word--
And youth and age their offerings raise.
In songs of ardent, cheerful praise.

702. L. M. J. G. Adams.

Dedication of a Country Church.

1 On this fair spot where nature pays
From hill, and vale, and flower, and tree,
In morning beams, in evening rays,
Its homage, God of all, to thee;--

2 Thy children meet to dedicate
This temple to thy gracious name;
Our hearts and songs to elevate,--
Thy grace and glory to proclaim.

3 Descend--and with thy spirit bless
The offering; may it ever be
Sacred to truth and righteousness,
From error's dread dominion free.

4 Here let the standard of thy word
Be raised and held by gospel hands;
Hither bring hearts with one accord,
To learn and do thy great commands.

5 And when we leave these courts below,
To join the hosts in praise above,
May others here rejoice to know
Thy boundless, everlasting love.

703. C. M. Bryant.

Dedication Hymn.

1 O Thou, whose own vast temple stands,
Built over earth and sea,
Accept the walls that human hands
Have raised to worship thee.

2 Lord, from thine inmost glory send,
Within these courts to bide,
The peace that dwelleth, without end,
Serenely by thy side.

3 May erring minds that worship here
Be taught the better way,
And they who mourn, and they who fear,
Be strengthened as they pray!

4 May faith grow firm, and love grow warm,
And pure devotion rise,
While round these hallowed walls the storm
Of earth-born passion dies!

704. L. M. Watts.

A House for God.

1 Where shall we go to seek and find
A habitation for our God?
A dwelling for th' Eternal Mind
Among the sons of flesh and blood?

2 The God of Jacob chose the hill
Of Zion for his ancient rest;
And Zion is his dwelling still;
His church is with his presence blest.

3 Here will he meet the hungry poor,
And fill their souls with living bread;
Here sinners, waiting at his door,
With sweet provision shall be fed.

4 "Here will I fix my gracious throne,
And reign forever," saith the Lord;
"Here shall my power and love be known,
And blessings shall attend my word."

705. H. M. Francis.

Prayer for God's Presence and Blessing.

1 Great King of glory, come,
And with thy favor crown
This temple as thy home,
This people as thine own:
Beneath this roof, O deign to show
How God can dwell with men below.

2 Here may thine ears attend
Our interceding cries,
And grateful praise ascend,
Like incense to the skies:
Here may thy word melodious sound,
And spread celestial joys around.

3 Here may our unborn sons
And daughters sound thy praise,
And shine, like polished stones,
Through long-succeeding days:
Here, Lord, display thy saving power,
While temples stand and men adore.

4 Here may the listening throng
Imbibe thy truth and love;
Here Christians join the song
Of seraphim above;
Till all, who humbly seek thy face,
Rejoice in thy abounding grace.

706. L. M. E. H. Chapin.

The Same.

1 Our Father God! not face to face
May mortal sense commune with thee,
Nor lift the curtains of that place
Where dwells thy secret Majesty.
Yet whereso'er our spirits bend
In rev'rent faith and humble prayer,
Thy promised blessing will descend,
And we shall find thy spirit there.

2 Lord! be the spot where now we meet,
An open gateway into heaven;
Here may we sit at Jesus' feet,
And feel our deepest sins forgiven.
Here may desponding care look up;
And sorrow lay its burden down,
Or learn, of him, to drink the cup,
To bear the cross, and win the crown.

3 Here may the sick and wandering soul,
To truth still blind, to sin a slave,
Find better than Bethesda's pool,
Or than Siloam's healing wave.
And may we learn, while here apart
From the world's passion and its strife
That thy true shrine's a loving heart,
And thy best praise a holy life!

707. L. M. Pierpont.

Ordination Hymn.

1 O Thou, who art above all height!
Our God, our Father, and our Friend!
Beneath thy throne of love and light,
Let thine adoring children bend.

2 We kneel in praise, that here is set
A vine that by thy culture grew;
We kneel in prayer, that thou wouldst wet
Its opening leaves with heavenly dew.

3 Since thy young servant now hath given
Himself, his powers, his hopes, his youth
To the great cause of truth and heaven,
Be thou his guide, O God of truth!

4 Here may his doctrines drop like rain,
His speech like Hermon's dew distil,
Till green fields smile, and golden grain,
Ripe for the harvest, waits thy will.

5 And when he sinks in death,--by care,
Or pain, or toil, or years oppressed,--
O God! remember then our prayer,
And take his spirit to thy rest.

708. 8s. & 6s. M. S. F. Smith.

Benefits of the Ministry.

1 Blest is the hour when cares depart,
And earthly scenes are far,--
When tears of woe forget to start,
And gently dawns upon the heart
Devotion's holy star.

2 Blest is the place where angels bend
To hear our worship rise,
Where kindred thoughts their musings blend,
And all the soul's affections tend
Beyond the veiling skies.

3 Blest are the hallowed vows that bind
Man to his work of love,--
Bind him to cheer the humble mind,
Console the weeping, lead the blind,
And guide to joys above.

4 Sweet shall the song of glory swell,
Spirit divine to thee,
When they whose work is finished well,
In thy own courts of rest shall dwell,
Blest through eternity.

709. L. M. H. Ware, Jr.

Ordination or Installation.

1 O Thou, who on thy chosen Son
Didst send thy Spirit like a dove,
To mark the long expected one,
And seal the messenger of love;

2 And when the heralds of his name
Went forth his glorious truth to spread,
Didst send it down in tongues of flame
To hallow each devoted head;

3 So, Lord, thy servant now inspire
With holy unction from above;
Give him the tongue of living fire,
Give him the temper of the dove.

4 Lord, hear thy suppliant church to-day;
Accept our work, our souls possess,
'Tis ours to labor, watch, and pray;
Be thine to cheer, sustain, and bless.

710. C. M. E. H. Chapin.

Ordination Hymn.

1 O Thou, who didst ordain the Word,
And its strong heralds send,
We draw the holy veil of prayer,
And in thy presence bend.
To this young warrior of the cross,
Who takes his station here,
Be thou a teacher and a guide,
And be thy Spirit near.

2 A pure disciple, let him tread
The ways his Master trod--
Giving the weary spirits rest,
Leading the lost to God--
Stooping to lend the sufferer aid,
Crushed sorrow's wail to hear,
To bind the widow's broken heart,
And dry the orphan's tear.

3 For war with error, make him strong,
And sin, the soul's dark foe--
But let him humbly seek for truth,
Where'er its waters flow.
And when, O Father, at the grave
He lays his armor down,
Give him the victor's glistening robe,
The palm-wreath and the crown.

711. L. M. Montgomery.

A Pastor Welcomed.

1 We bid thee welcome in the name
Of Jesus, our exalted Head:
Come as a servant; so he came;
And we receive thee in his stead.

2 Come as an angel, hence to guide
A band of pilgrims on their way;
That, safely walking at thy side,
We never fail, nor faint, nor stray.

3 Come as a teacher sent from God,
Charged his whole counsel to declare;
Lift o'er our ranks the prophet's rod,
While we uphold thy hands with prayer.

4 Come as a messenger of peace,
Filled with the Spirit, fired with love;
Live to behold our large increase,
And die to meet us all above.

712. 8s. & 7s. M. J. G. Adams.

Charge to a Pastor.

1 Herald of the Lord's salvation,
Watchful in thy station stand;
Heed the heavenly proclamation,
Heed the Master's great command.
Mark old error's gathering forces
Compassing our Zion round;
Know in truth thine own resources,
Give the trumpet's certain sound!

2 Christ proclaim in the new station,
Herald, now assigned to thee;
That the waiting congregation
God's salvation here may see.
Christ proclaim--no line abating
Of the counsel of the Lord;
From no promise deviating;
From no precept; "preach the word."

3 Then, God's blessing resting o'er thee,
And his truth, by night, by day,
Cloud and pillar bright before thee,
Shall make glad thy gospel way;
Till thy work well done, the greeting
Of the Master will be given;
Till we rise to that one meeting--
Pastor--people--all--in heaven!

713. 7s. M. E. Peabody.

Ordination or Installation.

1 Lift aloud the voice of praise!
God, our Father and our Friend,
Hear the prayer and song we raise,
Weak, yet trusting, we would bend.

2 Lo! another servant brought
To the heritage of God;--
May he teach as Christ hath taught,
Tread the path his Saviour trod.

3 To the vineyard may he come
Girded with celestial might;
Skilled to draw thy children home,
Taught to give the darkened light.

4 Unto thee, a people bend,--
Bind us heart to heart in love;
Flock and pastor, we would tend
Ever toward our home above.

714. H. M. Mrs. Case.

The Same.

1 Lord! on thy Zion's wall
A faithful watchman stands,
And hears the solemn call
Of anxious, waiting bands,
Who seek along the waning night
For heralds of thy coming light.

2 Oh, may he never sleep
Upon his weary post,
Nor shrink, though round him sweep
The storm's embattled host;
But, whatsoe'er the night may be,
Stand firm in duty and in thee!

3 And let his visioned eye
Rest on the truth sublime,
That sin and woe shall fly
Before advancing time,
Till in thine own eternal day
The latest tear hath passed away.

4 And when his watch is done,
Oh, let unclouded light,
From heaven's all glorious sun
Gleam on his closing sight:--
That all who see his death, shall know
His spirit walked with thee below.

715. 6s. & 4s. M. J. G. Adams.

The Same.

1 Sovereign of worlds above!
From thy blest throne of love,
To us appear;
Help, as we raise to thee,
Prayers of humility,
Praises of spirits free;
And wilt thou hear.

2 Be thy rich blessing shed
On thy young servant's head,
In this bright hour,
Who at thine altar stands,
With trusting heart and hands,
Waiting thy true commands,--
Seeking thy power.

3 Grant him thy wisdom, Lord,
And with thy mighty word
Armed may he be;
Faithful in teaching here,
Moved by thy holy fear,--
May his great charge be dear,
Father, to thee.

4 And when, his toilings ceased,
To heaven, from earth released,
Thou bid him come;
Then, where no sin-cloud lowers,
Be his glad theme and ours,
Love's high redeeming powers,
Man's endless home!

716. 8s. 7s. & 4s. M. L. C. Browne.

The Same.

1 As the evening shadows gather
O'er us, from thy holy hill
May thy blessing, righteous Father,
Like the evening dew distil;
And thy presence
Every heart with rapture fill!

2 While in summer's warmth and beauty,
We our brother set apart
To the pastor's solemn duty,
May thy spirit warm his heart;
Without measure,
Wisdom, strength and love impart.

3 To perform the sacred function
As thy servant we ordain,
Father, may the holy unction
Fall on him, like summer rain!
Make him fertile,
Bearing fruit like golden grain.

4 In the path of duty guide him,
Firm in virtue may he stand;
And from storm and peril, hide him
In the hollow of thy hand;
Keep his footsteps
Till he tread the better land.

5 When at last his toils are over,
Summer ended, autumn near,
May he and his flock, like clover
Ripened for the scythe, appear;
And when falling,
Guardian angels linger near.

717. 8s. 7s. & 4s. M. E. H. Chapin.

The Same.

1 Father! at this altar bending,
Set our hearts from world-thoughts free;
Prayer and praise their incense blending,
May our rites accepted be:
Father, hear us,
Gently draw our souls to thee.

2 Deign to smile upon this union
Of a pastor and a flock;
Sweet and blest be their communion:
May he sacred truths unlock--
And this people
Plant their feet on Christ the Rock.

3 Be his life a living sermon,
Be his thoughts one ceaseless prayer:
Like the dews that fell on Hermon,
Making green the foliage there,
May his teachings
Drop on souls beneath his care.

4 Here may Sin repent its straying,
Here may Grief forget to weep,
Here may Hope its light displaying,
And blest Faith, their vigils keep,
And the dying
Pass from hence in Christ to sleep.

5 When _his_ heart shall cease its motion,
All its toils and conflicts o'er;
When _they_ for an unseen ocean,
One by one, shall leave the shore;
Pastor, people, there--in heaven,
May they meet to part no more.

718. C. M. H. Bacon.

The Same.

1 Not for the prophet tongue of fire,
Nor voice of trumpet tone,
We lift our prayer, Immortal Sire,
For him before thy throne.

2 We ask for wisdom's gifts and grace,
The heart alive to love,
The earnest zeal to save our race,
All selfish aims above.

3 Lord, bless him now! By holy rite,
We consecrate to thee!
Make to his eye the chief delight
Christ's prospering work to see.

4 Bold let him be for truth and man,
For God and righteousness!
Free let him speak the gospel plan,
And the whole truth confess.

5 Be cloud and fire about his way,
Till Canaan's land is trod!
Then o'er his grave thy church shall say,
He led us to our God!

ASSOCIATIONS, CONVENTIONS, AND MISSIONARY MEETINGS.

719. C. M. Doddridge.

For a Meeting of Ministers.

1 Let Zion's watchmen all awake,
And take the alarm they give:
Now let them, from the mouth of God,
Their solemn charge receive.

2 'Tis not a cause of small import
The pastor's care demands;
But what might fill an angel's heart,
And filled a Saviour's hands.

3 May they, that Jesus whom they preach,
Their own Redeemer see;
And watch thou daily o'er their souls,
That they may watch for thee.

720. 8s. & 7s. M. Anonymous.

Burden and Conflict of the Ministry.

1 Onward, Christian, though the region
Where thou art be drear and lone;
God hath set a guardian legion
Very near thee,--press thou on!

2 By the thorn-wood, and none other,
Is the mount of vision won;
Tread it without shrinking, brother!
Jesus trod it,--press thou on!

3 By thy trustful, calm endeavor,
Guiding, cheering, like the sun,
Earth-bound hearts thou shalt deliver
O, for their sake, press thou on!

4 Be this world the wiser, stronger,
For thy life of pain and peace;
While it needs thee, O, no longer
Pray thou for thy quick release.

5 Pray thou, Christian, daily, rather,
That thou be a faithful son;
By the prayer of Jesus,--"Father,
Not my will, but thine, be done!"

721. L. M. A. Balfour.

Ministers Charged and Encouraged.

1 Go, messengers of peace and love,
To people plunged in shades of night;
Like angels sent from fields above,
Be yours to shed celestial light.

2 Go to the hungry,--food impart;
To paths of peace the wanderer guide;
And lead the thirsty panting heart
Where streams of living water glide.

3 O faint not in the day of toil,
When harvest waits the reaper's hand;
Go, gather in the glorious spoil,
And joyous in his presence stand.

4 Thy love a rich reward shall find
From him who sits enthroned on high;
For they who turn the erring mind
Shall shine like stars above the sky.

722. S. M. Wesleyan.

Call to Labor in God's Vineyard.

1 The vineyard of the Lord
Before his laborers lies;
And, lo! we see the vast reward
Which waits us in the skies.

2 O let us then proceed
In God's great work below,
And following our triumphant Head,
To further conquests go.

3 And let our heart and mind
Continually ascend,
That haven of repose to find,
Where all our labors end.

4 What honor to behold,
In that sublime abode,
The patriarchs and prophets old,
And all the men of God!

5 Then spend our days beneath,
Toiling in cheerful hope;
And fearless pass the vale of death,
And gain the mountain top.

723. L. M. Episcopal Coll.

For Laborers in God's Harvest.

1 O Spirit of the living God,
In all thy plenitude of grace,
Where'er the foot of man hath trod,
Descend on our degenerate race!

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