Thomas Kelly, 1809.

35 Mendon.  L.M.

Psalm 84. (119)

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

3 God is our sun, he makes our day; God is our shield, he guards our way From all th’ assaults of hell and sin, From foes without and foes within.

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

5 O God, 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 assemblies of thy saints.

2 My flesh would rest in thine abode;
My panting heart cries out for God;
My God! 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; God is their strength, and through the road They lean upon their helper, God.

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

     Isaac Watts, 1719

38 Ward.  L.M.

Before Sermon. (122)

Thy presence, gracious God! afford: 
Prepare us to receive thy word;
Now let thy voice engage our ear,
And faith be mixed with what we hear.

2 Distracting thoughts and cares remove,
And fix our hearts and hopes above;
With food divine may we be fed
And satisfied with living bread.

3 To us thy sacred word apply,
With sovereign power and energy;
And may we, in thy faith and fear,
Reduce to practice what we hear.