May we in heav'nly kindness grow,
And to fair Canaan move;
There shall we all for ever know,
That God indeed is love.
427. For a Church Meeting, or Christian
How good, how pleasant 'tis to see,
The church of Jesus kind and free;
Appearing like a new-born race,
Proving the pow'r of sov'reign grace.
How does the Saviour's love cement,
Brother to brother, saint to saint;
Each feels the other's care and grief,
And runs to give a kind relief.
In paths of peace they sweetly move,
And traverse o'er the fields of love;
Kindly they help each other on,
And press towards the heav'nly throne.
Now, Lord, may we, thy favour'd train,
Ever in purest love remain:
May discords evermore subside,
And we appear like Jesu's bride.
May we in peace be ever found,
And grace in every
Soon may we mount the heights above,
And live in all the blaze of love.
Then will we sing with all our might,
Through the refulgent courts of light;
Highest hosannas shall we raise,
And spend eternity in praise.
428. Love and Unity.
ESUS, cement our hearts as one,
And bury all complaints;
May nought divide us from thyself,
Or from thy honour'd saints.
O may we feel the flames of love,
In ev'ry bosom burn;
Rejoice with them that now rejoice,
And mourn with them that mourn.
Lord, may our souls for ever be,
To evil tempers dead;
Make us more gentle, meek, and mild,
More like our glorious head.
Never may haughty furious words
Our honour'd lips defile;
Contention we could ne'er promote,
But strive to reconcile.
Long suff'ring-courteous-loving—kind,
We ever wish to be,
Just like the lovely, patient Lamb,
That died on Calv'ry's tree.
Then at the great and awful day,
When Jesus shall appear,
We, as his saints, shall stand approv'd,
Without a rising fear.
429. Love to Brethren. S. M.
BLEST be the tie that binds, Our hearts in Christian love! The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above.
Before our Father's throne
We pour our ardent pray'rs:
Our fears, our hopes, our aims are oneOur comforts, and cur cares.
We share our mutual woes;
Our mutual burdens bear,
And often for each other flows
The sympathizing tear.
When we asunder part,
It gives us inward pain;
But we shall still be join'd in heart,
And hope to meet again.
This glorious hope revives
Our courage by the way;
While each in expectation lives,
And longs to see the day.
From sorrow, toil, and pain,
And sin we shall be free;
And perfect love and friendship reign
Thro' all eternity.
430. Before Sermon. 8. 7. 4. WELCOME, welcome, blessed servant, Messenger of Jesu's grace!
O how beautiful the feet of
Him that brings good news of peace. All hail, herald! all hail, herald! &c. Priest of God, thy people's joy!
Saviour, bless his message to us,
Give us hearts to hear the sound!
Of redemption, dearly purchas'd
By thy death and precious wounds!
O reveal it! O reveal it! &c.
To our poor and helpless souls.
Give reward of grace and glory,
To thy faithful labourer dear,
Let the incense of our hearts be
Offer'd up in faith and pray'r.
Bless, O bless him; bless, O bless him, &c.
Now, henceforth, for evermore.
431. The Lord's Day; or, Delight in Ordinances. S. M.
WELCOME Sweet day of rest,
That saw the Lord arise!
Welcome to this reviving breast,
And these rejoicing eyes!
The King himself comes near,
And feasts his saints to-day;
Here may we sit, and see him here,
And love, and praise, and pray.
One day amidst the place
Where my dear God hath been,
Is sweeter than ten thousand days
Of pleasurable sin.
My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,'
And sit and sing herself away
To everlasting bliss.
432. Witnessing Christ. S. M.
THE God whose smiles we court,
From whom we favour claim,
Whose love alone new life imparts,
And gives the heav'nly flame,
Is none but the meek Lamb,
Our dear exalted Lord,
Whose grace and Spirit still remain
To bless us in his word.
His promise is the same
His church below to bless,
When they assemble in his name
To supplicate his grace;
A train of sinners poor
He will not cast behind,
But keeps his word for evermore,
And bears us on his mind.
To our relief he flies,
He flies from realms above, Answers our prayers in sweet replies, And tokens of his love.
Shall we not witness bear
How faithful he hath been,
And boldly to the world declare
Salvation we have seen.
Yes, if thou'lt help us, Lord,
Thy name we will confess,
And speak of Christ the living word,
The Lord our Righteousness:
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