Time, that doth all things else impair,
Still makes them flourish strong and fair.
4 Laden with fruits of age they show,
The Lord is holy, just, and true;
None that attend his gates shall find
A God unfaithful, or unkind.
483. L. M. Dr. Doddridge.
The Church the Vineyard of God. Isa. v.1-7. THE vineyard of the Lord, how fair! Planted by his peculiar care;
Behold its branches spread and fill
The borders of his sacred hill.
2 His eye hath mark'd the chosen ground;
His mighty hand hath fenc'd it round;
His servants by his order wait,
To watch and aid its tender state.
3 But when the vintage he demands,
For all the labour of their hands,
What clusters doth his vine produce!
The grapes are wild, and sour the juice.
4 Well might he tear its fence away,
And leave it to the beasts of prey,
Might give it to the wild again,
And charge his clouds to cease their rain,
5 But spare our land, our churches spare!
Thy vengeance, long provok'd, forbear;
Let the true vine its influence give,
And bid our with'ring branches live!
484. C. M. Dr. Watts.
The Church is our Delight and Safety.
Psalm xxvii. 1-6.
1THE Lord of glory is my light,
And my salvation too;
God is my strength, nor will I fear
What all my foes can do.
2 One privilege my heart desires;
O grant me an abode
Among the churches of thy saints,
The temples of my God!
3 There shall I offer my requests,
And see thy beauty still;
Shall hear thy messages of love,
And there inquire thy will.
4 When troubles rise, and storms appear,
There may his children hide;
God has a strong pavilion, where
He makes my soul abide.
5 Now shall my head be lifted high
Above my foes around,
And songs of joy and victory
Within thy temple sound.
485. L. M. Dr. Watts.
The Church is God's House and Care.
Psalm cxxxv. 1-4, 19-21.
1 PRAISE ye the Lord, exalt his name,
While in his holy courts ye wait:
Ye saints, that to his house belong,
Or stand attending at his gate,
2 Praise ye the Lord; the Lord is good:
To praise his name is sweet employ;
Isr'el he chose of old, and still
His church is his peculiar joy.
3 The Lord himself will judge his saints:
He treats his servants as his friends;
And when he hears their sore complaints,
Removes the sorrows that he sends.
4 Through ev'ry age the Lord declares
His name, and breaks th' oppressor's rod;
He gives his suffering servants rest,
And will be known th' Almighty God.
5 Bless ye the Lord, who taste his love;
People and priests exalt his name:
Amongst his saints he ever dwells;
His church is his Jerusalem.
486. C. M. Dr. Watts.
Christian Unity. Psalm cxxxiii.
O, what an entertaining sight
Are brethren that agree,
Brethren whose cheerful hearts unite
In bands of piety!
2 When streams of fove from Christ the spring Descend to ev'ry soul,
And heav'nly peace with balmy wing
Shades and bedews the whole.
3 As when on Aaron's reverend head,
They pour'd the rich perfume;
Twas on his sacred collar spread,
And pleasure fill'd the room.
4 'Tis pleasant as the morning dews That fall on Sion's hill,
Where God his mildest glory shows,
And makes his grace distil.
Communion of Saints.
OLEST are the sons of peace,
Whose hearts and hopes are one, Whose kind designs to serve and please Through all their actions run.
2 Blest is the pious house
Where zeal and friendship meet:
Their songs of praise, their mingled vows, Make their communion sweet.
3 Thus when on Aaron's head
They pour'd the rich perfume,
The oil was on his raiment spread,
And pleasure fill'd the room.
4 Thus on the heav'nly hills
The saints are blest above,
Where joy like morning-dew distils,
And all the air is love.
488. Sevens. Mr. Charles Wesley.
Unity and Sympathy of Church Members.
JESUS, Lord, we look to thee,
Let us in thy name agree:
Show thyself the Prince of Peace,
Bid all jars for ever cease.
2 By thy reconciling love,
Every stumbling-block remove,
Each to each unite, endear,
Come and spread thy banner here.
3 Make us of one heart and mind,
Courteous, pitiful, and kind,
Meek in ev'ry thought and word,
Altogether like our Lord.
4 Let us each for other care,
Each his brother's burden bear,
To thy church the pattern give,
Show how true believers live.
5 Let us then with joy remove
To thy family above,
On the wings of angels flyje.
Show how true believers
489. Sevens. Mr. Rowland Hill's Cofiection. Praise from the Church.
1 NOW with joint consent we sing,
Glory to our God and King;
All our hearts and voices raise
To proclaim the Saviour's praise...
2 While in him we live and move,
He defends us by his love;
Wand'ring through this desert land
He upholds us with his hand.
3 He, in ev'ry time and place,
Manifests his guardian grace;
Ev'ry day and ev'ry hour,
Shields us by his constant power.
4 While we see each other's face,
Gladly we unite to bless
Him that leads us by his love
To his blissful throne above.
5 May we walk with God below,
In his likeness daily grow,
Till our joyful spirits rise,
To behold him in the skies.
490. L. M. Dr. Doddridge.
Prayer for a Revival in the Church.
Ezek. xxxvi. 37.
1 HEAR gracious Sov'reign! from thy throne,
And send thy various blessings down;
While by thine Israel thou art sought,
Attend the prayer thy word hath taught.
2 Come, sacred Spirit! from above,
And fill the coldest heart with love;
Soften to flesh the rugged stone,
And let thy godlike pow'r be known.
3 Come thou, and from the haughtiest eyes
Shall floods of pious sorrows rise;
While all their glowing souls are borne
To seek that grace which now they scorn.
40 let a holy flock await,
Num'rous around thy temple gate,
Each pressing on with zeal to be
A living sacrifice to thee!
5 In answer to our fervent cries,
Give us to see thy church arise:
Or, if that blessing seem too great,
Give us to mourn its low estate.
491. Mr. Oliver.
The Church triumphant.
THE ransom'd nations bow,
Before the Saviour's face,
Joyful the radiant crowns they throw,
O'erwhelm'd with grace;
He shows the scars of love:
They kindle to a flame,
And sound through all the worlds above
The slaughter'd Lamb.
The whole triumphant host
Give thanks to God on high:
Hail, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
They ever cry.
Hail, Abraham's God and mine!
I join the heav'nly lays:
All might and majesty are thine,
And endless praise.
492. Mr. Fellowes.
Prayer for the increase of the Church of
Christ.
1REAT fountain of our life and peace!
G still make thy righteous cause increase;
Oh! take thy mighty pow'r and reign,
Thou Lamb of God that once was slain!
2 As doves, whose numbers cloud the sky,
Successive to their windows fly;
From realms remote, exalted King,
Thy chosen sons and daughters bring.
3 Make poor dejected Zion shine:
Oh let her int'rest, Lord, be thine!
Fill her with sons of heav'nly birth,
And make her glorious in the earth.
493. C. M. Mr. Fellowes.
The Power und Glory of Christ manifest in his Works, but his Love shines in his Ordinances.
HOW vast, eternal King of Grace,
How high thy glories rise!
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