2. While suppliant crowds implore thine aid,
To thee we raise the humble cry:
Thine altar is the contrite heart;
Thine incense a repentant sigh.
3. But if injustice grind the poor,
Or av'rice stain the sordid hand,
Or stern ambition thirst for blood,
Or rude oppression waste the land:
4. The God, who hears the orphan's cry,
The martyr's pray'r, and pris'ner's groan,
Still list'ning to the poor opprest,
Would spurn th' oppressor from his throne. 5. Yet, though enormous crimes abound, Should but a genuine sorrow rise; And as new troubles threaten round 'Midst wasting wars and angry skies. 6. Should, in her sober hour, our land
Confess thy hand and bless the rod : Thou still wouldst love to be her friend, Who lov'd to own thee as her God.
HYMN 422. c. M.
THEN Abrah'm, full of sacred awe,
Before Jehovah stood,
And with an humble fervent pray'r,
For guilty Sodom sued:
2. With what success, what wondrous grace,
Was his petition crown'd!
The Lord would spare, if in this place
Ten righteous men were found.
3. And could a single pious soul
So rich a boon obtain ?
Good God! and shall a nation cry,
And plead with thee in vain ?
4. Are not the righteous dear to thee
Now, as in ancient times;
Or does this sinful land exceed
Gomorrah in her crimes!
5. Still we are thine, we bear thy name;
Here yet is thine abode.
Long has thy presence blest our land:
Forsake us not, O God!
6. O may our people, rulers, priests,
Thy choicest blessings share;
And know thee by that glorious name,
"The God who heareth pray'r!"
HYMN 423. c. M.
THY gracious favour, Lord! display,
Which we have long implor'd;
And, for thy wondrous mercies sake,
Thy wonted aid afford.
2. God's answer patiently I'll wait;
For he, with glad success,
If they no more to folly turn,
His mourning saints will bless.
3. To all, that fear his holy name,
His sure salvation's near;
And in its former happy state,
Our nation shall appear.
4. Truth from the earth shall spring, whilst heav'n Shall streams of justice pour;
And God, from whom all blessings flow,
Shall endless plenty show'r.
HYMN 424. L. M.
Praise for deliverance and peace.
1. PRAISE to the Lord, who bows his ear
Propitious to his people's pray'r;
And, though deliv'rance long delay,
Answers in his well chosen day.
2. Salvation doth to God belong;
His pow'r and grace shall be our song;
The tribute of our love we bring
To thee our Saviour and our King.
3. Our temples, guarded from the flame,
Shall echo thy triumphant name;
And ev'ry peaceful private home
To thee a temple shall become.
4. Still be it our supreme delight,
To walk as in thy honour'd sight;
Still in thy precepts and thy fear,
'Till life's last hour, to persevere.
5. O when shall time the period bring,
When peace shall stretch her balmy wing
O'er ev'ry land and ev'ry shore,
And raging war shall waste no more!
HYMN 425. L. M.
1. HAD not the Lord, may Israel say,
Had not the Lord maintain'd our side,
When men, to make our lives a prey,
Rose like the swelling of the tide;
2. The swelling tide had stopt our breath,
So fiercely did the billows roll:
We had been swallow'd up in death;
The waters had o'erwhelm'd our soul.
3. For ever blessed be the Lord,
Who broke the fowler's deadly snare;
Who sav'd us from the threat'ning sword,
And made our lives his watchful care.
4. Our help is in Jehovah's name,
Who form'd the earth and built the skies;
Who still upholds all nature's frame,
And guards his church with wakeful eyes.
HYMN 426. P. M.
OW let our songs address the God of peace, Who bids the tumult of the battle cease; The pointed spears to pruning hooks he bends, And the broad falchion in the plough-share ends. His pow'rful word unites contending nations In kind embrace and friendly salutations. 2. While we beneath our vines and fig-trees sit, Or thus within thy sacred temple meet, Accept, great God! the tribute of our song, And all the mercies of this day prolong. Then spread thy peacefu! word thro' ev'ry nation, That all the earth may hail thy great salvation. HYMN 427. c. M.
1. PEACE! the welcome sound proclaim; Dwell with rapture on the theme.
Loud, still louder swell the strain:
Peace on earth! good-will to men!
2. Breezes! whisp'ring soft and low,
Gently murmur as ye blow,
Now, when war and discord cease,
Praises to the God of peace.
3. Ocean's billows! far and wide,
Rolling in majestic pride!
Loud, still louder swell the strain:
Peace on earth! good-will to men!
4. Vocal songsters of the grove!
Sweetly chant in notes of love,
Now, when war and discord cease,
Praises to the God of peace.
5. Mortals who these blessings feel!
Christians who before him kneel!
Loud, still louder swell the strain:
Peace on earth! good-will to men!
5. FOR A CONGREGATION.
HYMN 428. L. M.
On opening a new place of worship.
1. AND will the great eternal God
earth establish his abode ?
And will he from his radiant throne
Regard our temples as his own?
2. We bring the tribute of our praise:
And sing that condescending grace,
Which to our notes will lend an ear,
And call us sinful mortals near.
3. Our Father's watchful care we bless, Which guards our house of pray'r in peace, That no tumultuous foes invade,
To fill the worshippers with dread. 4. These walls we to thy honour raise : Long may they echo with thy praise; And thou, descending, fill the place With choicest tokens of thy grace.
5. And in the great decisive day,
When God the nations shall survey,
May it before the world appear,
That crowds were born to glory here!
'HYMN 429. P. M.
1. IN sweet exalted strains
The King of glory praise:
O'er heav'n and earth he reigns,
Through everlasting days.
He with a nod the world controls,
Sustains cr sinks the distant poles.
2. To earth he bends his throne,
His throne of grace divine;
Wide is his bounty known,
And wide his glories shine.
Fair Salem, still his chosen rest,
Is with his smiles and presence blest.
3. Then King of glory! come;
And with thy favour crown
This temple as thy dome,
This people as thy own.
Within this house O deign to show,
How God can dwell with men below.
4. Here may thine ears attend Our interceding cries, And grateful praise ascend
All fragrant to the skies.
Here may thy word melodious sound, And spread the joys of heav'n around. 5. Here may th' attentive throng Imbibe thy truth and love;
And converts join the song
Of Seraphim above;
And willing crowds surround thy board,
With sacred joy and sweet accord.
6. In peace, here may our sons
And daughters sound thy praise:
And shine like polish'd stones,
Through long succeeding days.
Here, Lord! display thy saving pow'r,
While churches stand and saints adore.
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