3 Here, on the mercy-seat,

With radiant glory crowned,
Our joyful eyes behold thee sit
And smile on all around.

4 To thee, our prayers and cries
Each humble soul presents:
Oh! listen to our broken sighs,
And grant us all our wants.
5 Give us, O Lord! a place,
Within thy blest abode,

Among the children of thy grace,—
The servants of our God.

509.

C. M.

The Glory of Zion.

1 HOW honorable is the place,
Where we adoring stand;
Zion !—the glory of the earth,
And beauty of the land.

2 Bulwarks of mighty grace defend
The city where we dwell;
The walls, of strong salvation made,
Defy th' assaults of hell.

3 Lift up the everlasting gates,
The doors wide open fling;
Enter, ye nations that obey

The statutes of our King!

4 Here shall you taste unmingled joys,
And ive in perfect peace,-
You that have known Jehovah's name,
And ventured on his grace!

5 Trust in the Lord, for ever trust,
And banish all your fears:

Strength, in the Lord Jehovah, dwells,
Eternal as his years.

510.

L. M.

The Church, the Palace of G±d.

1 HAPPY the church, thou sacred place.
The seat of thy Creator's grace!
Thy holy courts are his abode,
Thou earthly palace of our God!

2 Thy walls are strength,—and at thy gaten
A guard of heavenly warriors waits;
Nor shall thy deep foundation move,
Fixed on his counsels and his love.
3 Thy foes in vain designs engage-
Against thy throne in vain they rage,
Like rising waves, with angry roar,
That dash and die upon the shore.
4 God is our shield, and God our sun;
Swift as the fleeting moments run,
On us he sheds new beams of grace,
And we reflect his brightest praise.

511.

H. M.

The House of Prayer.

1 GREAT Father of mankind!

We bless that wondrous grace,
Which could for Gentiles find,
Within thy courts, a place:
How kind the care

Our God displays,

For us to raise

A house of prayer.

2 Though once estranged afar,
We now approach the throne,
For Jesus brings us near,

And makes our cause his own:
Strangers no more,

To thee we come;
We find our home,
And rest secure.

3 To thee our souls we join,
And love thy sacred name:
No more our own, but thine,
We triumph in thy claim;
Our Father-King!

Thy covenant-grace
Our souls embrace,

Thy titles sing.

Let all the nations throng
To worship in thy house;
And thou attend the song,
And smile upon their vows,

7s.

512. The House of Prayer and Prais.

I LORD of hosts! to thee we raise,
Here, a house of prayer and praise;
Thou thy people's heart prepare,
Here to meet for praise and prayer.
2 Let the living here be fed,

With thy word, the heavenly bread;
Here, in hope of glory blest,

May the dead be laid to rest.

3 Here, to thee a temple stand,
While the sea shall girt the land
Here, reveal thy mercy sure,
While the sun and moon endure.
4 Hallelujah!-earth and sky
To the joyful sound reply:
Hallelujah!-hence ascend

Prayer and praise, till time shall end.

L. M.

513. On opening a House of Worship.

1 HERE, in thy name, eternal God!

We build this earthly house for thee; Oh! make it now thy fixed abode, And keep it, Lord! from error free. 2 When here thy people seek thy face, And dying sinners pray to live; Hear thou, in heaven, thy dwelling-place, And when thou hearest, Lord! forgive. 3 Here, when thy messengers proclaim, The blessed gospel of thy Son; Still, by the power of his great name, Be mighty signs and wonders done. 4 When children's voices raise the song,Hosanna to their heavenly King;

Let heaven, with earth, the strain prolong, "Hosanna!" let the angels sing.

5 But will, indeed, Jehovah deign,
Here to abide,-no transient guest?
Here, will our great Redeemer reign,
And here, the Holy Spirit rest?-

6 Thy glory never hence depart!

Yet choose not. Lord! this house alone;
Thy kingdom come, in every heart,-
In every bosom, fix thy throne.

L. M.

514. Prayer on opening a Church-Edifice

1 WITHIN thy house, O Lord our God!
In glorious majesty appear;
Make this a place of thine abode,

And shed thy choicest blessings here.
2 When we thy merey-seat surround,
Thy Spirit, with thy word, impart;
And let thy gospel's joyful sound,
With power divine, reach every near.
3 Here, let the blind their sight obtain,
Here, give the broken spirit rest;
Let Jesus here triumphant reign,-
Enthroned in every yielding breast.
4 Here, let the voice of sacred joy
And humble supplication rise,
Till higher strains our tongues employ,
In realms of bliss, beyond the skies.

515.

C. M.

Dedication of a Church.

1 GOD of the universe! to thee

This sacred fane we rear,

And now, with songs and bended knee,
Invoke thy presence here.

2 Long may this echoing dome resound
The praises of thy name,-

These hallowed walls to all around
The Triune God proclaim.

3 Here, let thy love-thy presence dwell,Thy glory here make known;

Thy people's home, Oh! come, and fill,
And seal it as thine own.

4 When sad with care-by sin oppressed,Here may the burdened soul,

Beneath thy sheltering wing, find rest;
Here, make the wounded whole.

5 And when the last long Sabbath-morn; Upon the just, shall rise,

May all, who own thee here, be borne
To mansions in the skies,

MINISTRY.

516.

S. M.

The Heralds of Christ.

1 HOW beauteous are their feet, Who stand on Zion's hill!

Who bring salvation on their tongues And words of peace reveal! 2 How charming is their voice! How sweet the tidings are!"Zion! behold thy Saviour-King, He reigns and triumphs here!"

3 How happy are our ears

That hear this joyful sound!
Which kings and prophets waited for,
And sought, but never found.

4 How blessed are our eyes,

That see this heavenly light!
Prophets and kings desired it long
But died without the sight.

The watchmen join their voice,
And tuneful notes employ;
Jerusalem breaks forth in songs,
And deserts learn the joy.

f The Lord makes bare his arm,
Through all the earth abroad.
Let every nation now behoid
Their Saviour and their God.