The Memorial of our absent Lord.
1 JESUS is gone above the sky,
Where our weak senses reach him not; And carnal objects court our eye,
To thrust our Saviour from our thought.
2 He knows what wandering hearts we have,
How weak our faith and hope might prove;
And, to refresh our minds, he gave
This kind memorial of his love.
3 The Lord of life this table spread
With his own flesh and dying blood:
We on the rich provision feed,
And taste the wine, and bless our God.
4 Let sinful sweets be all forgot,
And earth grow less in our esteem; Christ and his love fill every thought, And faith and hope be fixed on him.
HYMN 476. 61. L. M. [#]
The Christian's ardent Aspirations.
1 ETERNAL Spirit, Source of light,
Enlivening, consecrating Fire,
Descend, and with celestial heat
Our dull, our frozen hearts inspire;
Our souls refine, our dross consume;
Come, condescending Spirit, come.
2 In our cold breasts, O strike a spark
Of that pure flame which seraphs feel;
Nor let us wander in the dark,
Or lie benumbed and stupid still. Come, vivifying Spirit, come,
And make our hearts thy constant home.
3 Let pure devotion's fervours rise;
Let every pious passion glow;
O let the raptures of the skies
Kindle in our cold hearts below.
Come, purifying Spirit, come,
And make our souls thy constant home.
HYMN 477. 8 & 7s. M. [b]
Desires after Christian Obedience.
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 AND ORDINATIONS.
HYMN 478. S. P. M. [#]
On opening a Place of Worship.
1 How does my heart rejoice
To hear the public voice,
Come, let us seek our God to-day!
Yes, with a cheerful zeal,
We'll haste to Zion's hill,
And there our vows and honours pay.
2 Zion, thrice happy place!
Adorned with wondrous grace,
And walls of strength enclose thee round;
In thee our souls appear,
To pray, and praise, and hear
The sacred gospel's joyful sound.
3 May peace attend thy gate,
And joy within thee wait,
To bless the soul of every guest:
The man who seeks thy peace,
And wishes thine increase,
A thousand blessings on him rest.
4 My tongue repeats her vows,
Peace to this sacred house,
For here my friends and brethren dwell;
And, since my glorious God
Makes this his blest abode,
My soul shall ever love thee well.
HYMN 479. C. M. [#]
Consecration of a Place of Worship.
1 GREATEST of beings, Source of good,
We bow before thy throne,
Which from eternity hath stood,
And worship thee alone.
2 Wilt thou vouchsafe thy presence here,
And shed propitious rays,
While with united hands we rear
An altar to thy praise?
3 Here, then, in every heart be found
The dwelling of thy choice;
And here be heard that sweetest sound,
The cheerful, thankful voice.
4 Here may the mind, while sunk in woes,
And comfort long delays,
On Mercy's gentle breast repose,
And change its sighs for praise.
5 May love, with sweet, resistless force,
Compel her guests to come;
Arrest the sinner's downward course,
And call the wanderer home.
6 While life eternal all pursue,
Here may the way be shown,
To know thyself, God only true,
And Christ, thy chosen Son.
HYMN 480. L. M. [#]
Worship acceptable in all Places.
1 0 THOU, to whom, in ancient time,
The lyre of Hebrew bards was strung,
Whom kings adored in song sublime,
And prophets praised with glowing tongue; 2 Not now on Zion's height alone,
Thy favoured worshipper may dwell;
Not where, at sultry noon, thy Son
Sat, weary, by the patriarch's well :
3 From every place below the skies,
The grateful song, the fervent prayer,
The incense of the heart, may rise
To heaven, and find acceptance there.
4 In this thy house, whose doors we now
For social worship first unfold,
To thee the suppliant throng shall bow,
While circling years on years are rolled.
5 To thee shall age, with snowy hair,
And strength and beauty, bend the knee,
And childhood lisp, with reverent air,
Its praises and its prayers to thee.
6 O thou, to whom, in ancient time,
The lyre of prophet bards was strung,
To thee, at last, in every clime,
Shall temples rise, and praise be sung.
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