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Till each receives the glorious crown
Of never-fading love.

544.

Long Metre. DODDRIDGE.
The Christian farewell.

THY presence, everlasting GOD!
Wide thro' all nature spreads abroad:
Thy watchful eyes, which never sleep,
In ev'ry place thy children keep.

2 While near each other we remain,
Thou dost our lives and pow'rs sustain;
When sep'rate, we rejoice to share
Thy counsels, and thy gracious care.
3 To thee we now commit our ways,
And still implore thy heav'nly grace;
Still cause thy face on us to shine,
And guard and guide us still as thine.
4 Give us, in thy beloved house,
Again to pay our grateful vows;
Or, if that joy no more be known,
Give us to meet around thy throne.

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PART XVI.

Domestic and Private Worship.

It will readily occur to the intelligent reader, that many of the hymns classed under this head are not exclusively confined either to domestic or private worship, but may with great propriety be used in public assemblies of Christians.

545.

Long Metre. Doddridge.
Family religion.

ATHER of men! thy care we bless,
crown our

Which crowns our families with peace: From thee they sprung, and by thy hand Their root and branches are sustain'd.

2 To God, most worthy to be prais'd, Be our domestic altars rais'd;

Tho' LORD of heav'n, he deigns to dwell With saints in their obscurest cell.

3 To thee let each united house,

Morning and night, present its vows:
Our servants there, and rising race,
Be taught thy precepts and thy grace.

4 O may each future age proclaim
The honours of thy glorious name;
While pleas'd, and thankful, we remove
To join the family above.

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546.

Long Metre. MISS SCOTT,
Family religion,

THERE'ER the LORD shall build
my house,

WHER

An altar to his name I'll raise;

There, morn and ev'ning, shall ascend
The sacrifice of pray'r and praise.
2 With duteous mind, the social band
Shall search the records of thy law;
There learn thy will, and humbly bow
With filial reverence and awe.

3 If num'rous blessings of the earth
Indulgent providence afford,

With warm united hearts we'll pay
Our grateful tribute to the LORD.
4 Here may he fix his sacred seat,
And spread the banner of his love;
Till, ripen'd for a happier state,
We meet th' assembl'd church above.

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547.

Common Metre. D. TAYLOR'S COLLEC.

GR

The same subject.

REAT GOD! where'er we pitch our tent,

Let us an altar raise;

And there, with humble frame, present
Our sacrifice of praise.

2 To thee we give our health and strength,
While health and strength shall last;
For future mercies humbly trust,
Nor e'er forget the past.

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548.

Short Metre. Watts.

Domestic peace and harmony.

O, what a pleasing sight

Are brethren that agree!

How blest are all whose hearts unite
In bands of piety!

From those celestial springs,
Such streams of comfort flow,
As no increase of riches brings,
Nor honours can bestow.

All in their stations move,
And each performs his part,
In all the cares of life and love,
With sympathizing heart:

Form'd for the purest joys,
By one desire possest;

One aim the zeal of all employs,
To make each other blest.

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No bliss can equal theirs,

Where such affections meet:

While praise devout, and mingl'd pray'rs,
Make their communion sweet.

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'Tis the same pleasure fills

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The breast in worlds above;
Where joy like morning dew distils,
And all the air is love.

549.

Long Metre. MRS. BARBAULD.
Pious friendship.

OW blest the sacred tie that binds

Hin union sweet, according minds!
HOW
In

sweet,

How swift the heav'nly course they run,
Whose hearts, whose faith, whose hopes

are one!

2 To each, the soul of each how dear!
What jealous love, what holy fear!
How doth the gen'rous flame within
Refine from earth, and cleanse from sin!
3 Their streaming eyes together flow
For human guilt and mortal woe;
Their ardent pray'rs together rise,
Like mingling flames in sacrifice.

4 Together both they seek the place
Where GOD reveals his awful face:
How high, how strong, their raptures swell,
There's none but kindred souls can tell.

5 Nor shall the glowing flame expire
'Midst nature's drooping sick'ning fire;
Soon shall they meet in realms above,
A heav'n of joy-because of love.

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