THE HOUSE OF PRAYER Within these walls let holy peace, And love, and concord dwell; Here give the troubled conscience The wounded spirit heal[ ease, May we in faith receive Thy word, In faith address our prayers; And in the presence of our Lord Unbosom all our cares. Amen.

386 JESU, where'er Thy people

meet,

There they behold Thy mercy- seat; Where'er they seek Thee, Thou art found,

And every place is hallow'd ground. For Thou, within no walls confined, Inhabitest the humble mind;[ come, Such ever bring Thee where they And going take Thee to their home. Dear Shepherd of Thy chosen few, Thy former mercies here renew; Here to our waiting hearts proclaim The sweetness of Thy saving name. Here may we prove the power of prayer

To strengthen faith and sweeten care; To teach our faint desires to rise, And bring all heaven before our eyes. Lord, we are few, but Thou art near; Nor short Thine arm, nor deaf Thine [ down,

ear;

Oh rend the heavens, come quickly And make all hearts, O Lord, Thine own. Amen.

387 On, happy feet that tread

Thine earthly courts, OLord! There heavenly light is shed; There Thine own peace is pour'd. Oh, happy knees that press

Thy temple's lowly floor, While contrite hearts confess, And pardoning grace implore! Oh, happy ears that hear

With glad and simple faith The message ringing clear­" Thy sins God pardoneth"! Oh, happy tongues that sing With burning praise on fire Here faintly echoing,

The bright celestial choir! Oh, happy souls that rise In childlike trust to Thee, With hallow d sacrifice

Of prayer and litany! Oh, happy eyes that light With brave and holy pride, The one faith to recite, For which the martyrs died! Oh, happier still who low

At Thy blest banquet kneel, With trembling rapture glow, And there Thy presence feel!

298

AND PUBLIC WORSHIP. But happiest happiest far,

To heaven's fair courts to soar, And, where all glories are,

To praise Thee evermore! Amen.

388 WE love the place, O God. Wherein Thine honore The joy of Thine abode[ dwells All earthly joy excels. It is the house of prayer, Wherein Thy servants meet: And Thou, O Lord, art there Thy chosen flock to greet. We love the sacred font,

For there the Holy Dove Pours out, as He is wont,

The effluence from above. We love our Father's board, Oh what on earth so dear? Where faithful hearts, O Lord, Still find Thy presence near. We love the word of life, The word that tells of peace Of comfort in the strife, And joys that never cease. We love to sing below

For mercies freely given; But oh! we long to know The triumph- song of heaven. Lord Jesu, give us grace

On earth to love Thee more, In heaven to see Thy face, And with Thy saints adore.

Amen

PLEASANT are Thy courts

389 above,

In the land of light and love"; Pleasant are Thy courts below, In this land of sin and woe. Oh, my spirit longs and faints For the converse of Thy saints, For the brightness of Thy face, For Thy fulness, God of grace. Happy birds, that sing and fly Round Thy altars, 0 Most High: Happier souls that find a rest In a heavenly Father's breast! Like the wandering dove, that found No repose on earth around, They can to their ark repair, And enjoy it ever there.

Happy souls! their praises flow Even in this vale of woe; Waters in the desert rise, Manna feeds them from the skies. On they go from strength to strength, Till they reach Thy throne at length: At Thy feet adoring fall,

Who hast led them safe through all. Lord, be mine this prize to win, Guide me through a world of sin, Keep me by Thy saving grace, Give me at Thy side a place: