THE HOUSE OF PRAYER If I find Him, if I follow,
What His guerdon here? Many a sorrow, many a labour, Many a tear."
If I still hold closely to Him, What hath He at last? " Sorrow vanquish'd, labour ended, Jordan pass'd."
If I ask Him to receive me, Will He say me nay? " Not till earth, and not till heaven Pass away.
Finding following keeping, struggling is He sure to bless? " Saints, apostles, prophets, martyrs, Answer, Yes. Amen.
Sundays after Trinity: The Nouse of Prager and Public Worship.
378 CHRIST is our corner- stone, On Him alone we build; With His true saints alone The courts of heaven are fill'd: On His great love Our hopes we place Of present grace And joys above.
AND PUBLIC WORSHIP.
Though pilgrim hearts are moaning The sin and strife of earth, The whole creation groaning In travail pangs of birth, Emmanuel leads us onward; His cross is in the van; The clouds are rifted sunward: God with us: what is man? Though more the devil rages As nearer draws his hour, Hid in the Rock of Ages
Thy mercy- seat of grace. What time the tempests gather, Light, love, peace, praise, be here: The children with their Father: God with us: where is fear? 91
We bide his wrath and power 1 For still the Dove is hovering
O'er every suppliant saint: The Cloud His ark is covering: God with us: who can faint! Praise ye our God for ever, Nor death nor hell can sever The servant and his Lord.
In these His courts adored:
On, brothers, on; victorious The Gospel's trumpet call; The Lord of hosts before us; God with us, one and all. Amen.
CHURCH RESTORATION.
380 LIFT the strain of high thanks
giving,
Tread with songs the hallow'd way, Praise our fathers' God for mercies Here they built for Him a dwelling, New to us their sons to- day! Served Him here in ages past, Fix'd it for His sure possession,
Holy ground, while time shall last. When the years had wrought their changes,
He, our own unchanging God, Thought on this His habitation, Look'd on His decay'd abode; Heard our prayers, and help'd our counsels,
Oh then with hymns of praise These hallow'd courts shall ring; Our voices we will raise
The Three in One to sing; And thus proclaim In joyful song Both loud and long That glorious name. Here, gracious God, do Thou For evermore draw nigh; Accept each faithful vow, And mark each suppliant sigh: In copious shower On all who pray Each holy day Thy blessings pour. Here may we gain from heaven The grace which we implore; And may that grace, once given. Be with us evermore, Until that day
When all the blest To endless rest Are call'd away. Amen. CHURCH CONSECRATION OR DEDICATION FESTIVAL.
379 GREAT God of our salvation, Be this Thy resting- place, Thy holy habitation,
Bless'd the silver and the gold, Till once more His house is standing Firm and stately as of old.
Entering then Thy gates with praises, Lord, be ours Thine Israel's prayer;
" Rise into Thy place of resting, Show Thy promised presence there 1"
Let the gracious word be spoken Here, as once on Zion s height, " This shall be My rest for ever, This My dwelling of delight." Fill this latter house with glory Greater than the former knew; Clothe with righteousness its priesthood,
Guide its choir to reverence true; Let Thy Holy One's anointing
Here its sevenfold blessing shed: Spread for us the heavenly banquet, Satisfy Thy poor with bread.