_A Blessing Implored._ (134)

Lord! we come before thee now; At thy feet we humbly bow; Oh, do not our suit disdain; Shall we seek thee, Lord, in vain?

2 Send some message from thy word, That may joy and peace afford; Let thy Spirit now impart Full salvation to each heart.

3 Comfort those who weep and mourn; Let the time of joy return; Those that are cast down lift up, Strong in faith, in love, and hope.

4 Grant that those who seek may find Thee, a G.o.d sincere and kind; Heal the sick, the captive free, Let us all rejoice in thee.

William Hammond, 1745.

32 Sicily. 8s, 7s, & 4s.

_Opening of Service._ (137)

In thy name, O Lord! a.s.sembling, We, thy people, now draw near; Teach us to rejoice with trembling; Speak, and let thy servants hear-- Hear with meekness-- Hear thy word with G.o.dly fear.

2 While our days on earth are lengthened, May we give them, Lord, to thee; Cheered by hope, and daily strengthened, May we run, nor weary be, Till thy glory Without clouds in heaven we see.

3 There, in worship, purer, sweeter, Thee thy people shall adore; Tasting of enjoyment greater Far than thought conceived before; Full enjoyment, Full, unmixed, and evermore.

Thomas Kelly, 1809.

33 Sicily. 8s, 7s, & 4s.

_Close of Service._ (141)

Lord, dismiss us with thy blessing, Fill our hearts with joy and peace; Let us each, thy love possessing, Triumph in redeeming grace; Oh! refresh us, Traveling through this wilderness.

2 Thanks we give and adoration, For thy gospel's joyful sound; May the fruits of thy salvation In our hearts and lives abound; May thy presence With us, evermore, be found.

3 So, whene'er the signal's given, Us from earth to call away, Borne on angel's wings to heaven, Glad the summons to obey, We shall surely Reign with Christ in endless day.

Walter Shirley, 1774.

34 Sicily. 8s, 7s, & 4s.

_Plea for Parting Blessing._ (139)

G.o.d of our salvation! hear us; Bless, oh, bless us, ere we go; When we join the world, be near us, Lest we cold and careless grow.

Savior! keep us; Keep us safe from every foe.

2 As our steps are drawing nearer To our everlasting home, May our view of heaven grow clearer, Hope more bright of joys to come; And, when dying, May thy presence cheer the gloom.

Thomas Kelly, 1809.

35 Mendon. L.M.

_Psalm 84._ (119)

Great G.o.d! attend while Zion sings The joy that from thy presence springs; To spend one day with thee on earth Exceeds a thousand days of mirth.

2 Might I enjoy the meanest place Within thy house, O G.o.d of grace!

Not tents of ease, nor thrones of power, Should tempt my feet to leave thy door.

3 G.o.d is our sun, he makes our day; G.o.d is our shield, he guards our way From all th' a.s.saults of h.e.l.l and sin, From foes without and foes within.

4 All needful grace will G.o.d bestow, And crown that grace with glory too; He gives us all things, and withholds No real good from upright souls.

5 O G.o.d, our King! whose sovereign sway The glorious hosts of heaven obey, And devils at thy presence flee; Blest is the man that trusts in thee!

Isaac Watts, 1719.

36 Mendon L.M.

_The Presence of Christ._ (124)

How sweet to leave the world awhile, And seek the presence of our Lord!

Dear Savior! on thy people smile, And come, according to thy word.

2 From busy scenes we now retreat, That we may here converse with thee: Ah! Lord! behold us at thy feet;-- Let this the gate of heaven be.

3 Chief of ten thousand! now appear, That we by faith may see thy face; Oh! speak, that we thy voice may hear And let thy presence fill this place.

Thomas Kelly, 1809.

37 Mendon. L.M.

_Psalm 84._ (127)

How pleasant, how divinely fair, O Lord of hosts, thy dwellings are!

With long desire my spirit faints, To meet the a.s.semblies of thy saints.

2 My flesh would rest in thine abode; My panting heart cries out for G.o.d; My G.o.d! my King! why should I be So far from all my joys and thee?

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; G.o.d is their strength, and through the road They lean upon their helper, G.o.d.

5 Cheerful they walk with growing strength, Till all shall meet in heaven at length; Till all before thy face appear, And join in n.o.bler worship there.

Isaac Watts, 1719