27

BEHOLD we come, dear Lord, to Thee,
And bow before Thy throne;
We come to offer on our knee
Our vows to Thee alone.

2 Whate'er we have, whate'er we are,
Thy bounty freely gave;

Thou dost us here in mercy spare,

And wilt hereafter save.

3 Come, then, my soul, bring all thy powers,
And grieve thou hast no more;
Bring every day thy choicest hours,
And thy great God adore.

4 But, above all, prepare thine heart
On this, His own blest day,

In its sweet task to bear thy part, And sing, and love, and pray. 28

John Austin 1668

My Lord, my Love, was crucified, He all the pains did bear;

But in the sweetness of His rest
He makes His servants share.

2 Thou, Lord, who daily feed'st Thy sheep, Mak'st them a weekly feast;

Thy flocks meet in their several folds
Upon this day of rest.

3 Welcome and dear unto my soul
Are these sweet feasts of love;
But what a Sabbath shall I keep

When I shall rest above!

4 I bless Thy wise and wondrous love, Which binds us to be free;

Which makes us leave our earthly snares,
That we may come to Thee.

5 I come, I wait, I hear, I pray,
Thy footsteps, Lord, I trace;
I sing to think this is the way
Unto my Saviour's face.

John Mason 1683

31

SWEET is the work, my God, my King,
To praise Thy name, give thanks, and sing;
To show Thy love by morning light,
And talk of all Thy truth at night.

2 Sweet is the day of sacred rest;

No mortal cares shall seize my breast;
O may my heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp of solemn sound.

3 My heart shall triumph in my Lord,
And bless His works, and bless His word;
Thy works of grace, how bright they shine,
How deep Thy counsels, how divine.
4 Lord, I shall share a glorious part,
When grace hath well refined my heart,
And fresh supplies of joy are shed,
Like holy oil, to cheer my head.

5 Then shall I see, and hear, and know
All I desired or wished below;

ALL people that on earth do dwell,

Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice: Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell, Come ye before Him, and rejoice.

2 The Lord, ye know, is God indeed, Without our aid He did us make: We are His flock, He doth us feed,

And for His sheep He doth us take.
3 O enter then His gates with praise,
Approach with joy His courts unto:
Praise, laud, and bless His name always,
For it is seemly so to do.

4 For why? the Lord our God is good,
His mercy is forever sure:
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure.

William Kethe 1561

WAREHAM L. M.

W. Knapp

20-4

33

How pleasant, how divinely fair,
O Lord of hosts, Thy dwellings are;
With long desire my spirit faints,
To meet the assemblies of Thy saints.
2 Blest are the saints who sit on high,
Around Thy throne of majesty;
Thy brightest glories shine above,
And all their work is praise and love.

3 Blest are the souls who find a place
Within the temple of Thy grace;
There they behold Thy gentler rays,
And seek Thy face, and learn Thy praise.

4 Blest are the men whose hearts are set To find the way to Zion's gate;

20 that our thoughts and thanks may rise,
As grateful incense, to the skies;
And draw from heaven that sweet repose,
Which none but he that feels it knows.

3 This heavenly calm within the breast
Is the dear pledge of glorious rest,
Which for the church of God remains,
The end of cares, the end of pains.
4 In holy duties let the day,
In holy pleasures, pass away;
How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend,
In hope of one that ne'er shall end.
Joseph Stennett 1712

35

COME, dearest Lord, descend and dwell,

34

Isaac Watts 1719

ANOTHER Six days' work is done,
Another Sabbath is begun :
Return, my soul, enjoy thy rest,
Improve the day thy God hath blest.

Then shall we know, and taste, and feel,
The joys that cannot be expressed.

2 Come, fill our hearts with inward strength;
Make our enlargéd souls possess,
And learn the height and breadth and length
Of Thine unmeasurable grace.

3 Now to the God whose power can do More than our thoughts or wishes know, Be everlasting honors done,

By all the Church, through Christ, His Son.

Isaac Watts 1709

J. Barnby

HAMMOND 75.

THEODORA 75.

G. F. Handel

COME, my soul, thy suit prepare,
Jesus loves to answer prayer;
He Himself has bid thee pray,
Therefore will not say thee nay.
2 With my burden I begin:
Lord, remove this load of sin;
Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt,
Set my conscience free from guilt.
3 Lord, I come to Thee for rest,
Take possession of my breast;
There Thy blood-bought right maintain
And without a rival reign.

4 While I am a pilgrim here,
Let Thy love my spirit cheer;
As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend,
Lead me to my journey's end.

WREFORD P. M.

5 Show me what I have to do,
Every hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die Thy people's death.

40

HAIL! sacred day of earthly rest,

From toil and trouble free;

Hail! day of light, that bringest light
And joy to me.

2 A holy stillness, breathing calm
On all the world around,
Uplifts my soul, O God, to Thee,
Where rest is found.

3 On all I think, or say, or do

A ray of light divine

Is shed, O God, this day by Thee,
For it is Thine.

4 Accept, O God, my hymn of praise,
That Thou this day hast given;
Sweet foretaste of that endless day
Of rest in heaven.

Godfrey Thring 1858