At once they sing, at once they pray!

They hear of heav'n and learn the way. 2 I have been there and still would go,

'Tis like a little heav'n below :
May nothing draw my beart away,

Or tempt me to forget this day.
3 O write upon my mem'ry, Lord,

The text and doctrine of thy word:
Tbat I

may

break thy laws no more, But love thee better than before. 4 With thoughts of Christ, and things

divine,
Fill up this foolish heart of mine;
That, hoping pardon thro' his blood,
I may lie down and wake with God.

434. The Eternal Sabbath. L.M.

There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of GOD..

HEB. iv. 9.

LORD of the Sabbath, hear us pray
In this thine bouse, on this thy day;
And own as grateful sacrifice,

The songs which from thy people rise. 2 Thine earthly sabbaths, LORD, we love;

But there's a nobler rest above;
To that our longing hearts aspire
With lively faith and strong desire.

3 No more fatigue, no more distress,

Nor sin, nor hell, shall reach the place;
No groans shall mingle with the songs

Which issue from immortal tongues. 4 No rude alarms of raging foes,

No cares to break the long repose
No midnight shade, no clouded sun,

But sacred, high, eternal noon, 5 O long-expected day, begin,

Dawn on these realms of woe and sin;
Fain would we leave the weary road,
And sleep in death to rest with Gop.

PRAYER. 435. Before Prayer. L.M. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the

Spirit-Eph. vi. 18.
COME, Holy Spirit, calm my mind,
And fit me to approach my Gop:
Remove each vain, each worldlythought,

And lead me to thy blest abode. 2 Hast thou imparted to my soul

A living spark of heav'nly fire ? ?
O kindle now the sacred flame,

With ardent zeal my soul inspire!
8 O make my wand'ring heart to feel

The love that Christ to sinners bore:
Then mourn the wounds

my
sins

proAnd my redeeming God adore. [duc'd,

435 2 A Blessing sought on Prayer. 7s. I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.-GENESIS

xxxii. 26.
LORD, I cannot let thee go,
Till a blessing thou bestow;
Do not turn away thy face,

Mine's an urgent pressing case. 2 Dost thou ask me who I am?

Ah! my LORD, thou know'st my name;
Yet the question gives a plea

To support my suit with thee.]
3 Thou didst once a wretch behold,

In rebellion blindly bold,
Scorn thy grace, thy power defy;

That poor rebel, Lord, was I. 4 Once a sinner near despair

Sought thy mercy-seat by prayer;
» Mercy heard, and set him free;

LORD, that mercy came to me.
5 [Many days have pass'd since then,
Many changes l'have seen;
Yet have been upheld till now;

Who could hold me up but thou ?] 6 Thou hast help'd in ev'ry need;

This emboldens me to plead :
After so much mércy past," "''P

Cånst thou let me sink at last? 327

7 No-I must maintain my hold,

'Tis thy goodness makes me bold;
I can no denial take,
When I plead for Jesu's sake,

436. Encouragement to Prayer. C.M.

Ask, and it shall be given you.-MAT. vii. 7. APPROACH, my soul, the mercy-seat,

Where Jesus answers pray'r; There buinbly fall before his feet,

For none can perish there. 2 Thy promise is my only plea,

With this I venture nigh;
Thou callest burden'd souls to thee,

And such, O LORD, am I.
3 Bow'd down beneath a load of sin,

By Satan sorely prest,
By war without and fears within,

I come to thee for rest. 4 Be thou my shield and hiding-place;

That, shelter'd near thy side, I may my fierce accuser face,

And tell him, thou hast died.
5 O wond'rous love! to bleed and die,

To bear the cross and shame,
That guilty sinners, such as 1, ...

Might plead thy gracious name.

437. Encouragement to Prayer. 78.

Ask what I shall give thee._1 Kings iii. 5.

COME, my soul, thy suit prepare,
Jesus loves to answer pray'r;
He himself has bid thee pray,

Therefore will not turn away.
2 Thou art coming to a King,
Large petitions with thee bring;
For his grace and pow'r are such,

None can ever ask too much. 3 With my burden I begin,

O remove this load of sin !
Let thy blood, for sinners spilt,

Set my conscience free from guilt. 4 Lord, I come to thee for rest,

Take possession of my breast;
There thy blood-bought right maintain,

And without a rival reign. 5 While I am a pilgrim here,

Let thy love my spirit cheer;
As my guide, my guard, my friend,

Lead me to my journey's end. 6 [Show me what I bave to do,

Ev'ry hour my strength renew;
Let me live a life of faith,
Let me die thy people's death.]