V
In childhood and in youth
His eye was on us still,
Though strangers to his love and truth,
And prone to cross his will.
VI
And since his name we knew,
How gracious has he been,
What dangers has he led us through,
What mercies have we seen!
VII
Now through another year,
Supported by his care,
We raise our Ebenezer here,
“The Lord has help’d thus far.”
VIII
Our lot in future years
Unable to foresee,
He kindly, to prevent our fears,
Says, “Leave it all to me.”
IX
Yea, Lord, we wish to cast
Our cares upon thy breast.
Help us to praise thee for the past,
And trust thee for the rest.
II
Ordinances
43
On Opening a Place for Social Prayer
By Newton
I
O Lord, our languid souls inspire,
For here we trust thou art;
Send down a coal of heav’nly fire
To warm each waiting heart.
II
Dear Shepherd of thy people, hear;
Thy presence now display:
As thou hast given a place for pray’r,
So give us hearts to pray.
III
Show us some token of thy love,
Our fainting hope to raise;
And pour thy blessings from above,
That we may render praise.
IV
Within these walls let holy peace
And love and concord dwell;
Here give the troubled conscience ease,
The wounded spirit heal.
V
The feeling heart, the melting eye,
The humbled mind bestow;
And shine upon us from on high,
To make our graces grow!
VI
May we in faith receive thy word,
In faith present our pray’rs;
And in the presence of our Lord
Unbosom all our cares!
VII
And may the gospel’s joyful sound,
Enforced by mighty grace,
Awaken many sinners round
To come and fill the place!
44
Another
By Cowper
I
Jesus, where’er thy people meet,
There they behold thy mercy-seat;
Where’er they seek thee, thou art found,
And every place is hallow’d ground.
II
For thou, within no walls confined,
Inhabitest the humble mind;
Such ever bring thee where they come,
And going, take thee to their home.
III
Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few,
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of thy saving name.
IV
Here may we prove the power of pray’r
To strengthen faith and sweeten care—
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all heaven before our eyes.
V
Behold, at thy commanding word,
We stretch the curtain and the cord;
Come thou, and fill this wider space,
And bless us with a large increase.
VI
Lord, we are few, but thou art near;
Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;
O rend the heavens, come quickly down,
And make a thousand hearts thine own!
45
The Lord’s Day
By Newton
I
How welcome to the saints, when press’d
With six days’ noise and care and toil,
Is the returning day of rest,
Which hides them from the world awhile!
II
Now from the throng withdrawn away,
They seem to breathe a diff’rent air;
Composed and soften’d by the day,
All things another aspect wear.
III
How happy if their lot is cast
Where statedly the gospel sounds!
The word is honey to their taste,
Renews their strength, and heals their wounds!
IV
Though pinch’d with poverty at home,
With sharp afflictions daily fed,
It makes amends, if they can come
To God’s own house for heav’nly bread!
V
With joy they hasten to the place
Where they their Saviour oft have met;
And while they feast upon his grace,
Their burdens and their griefs forget.
VI
This favour’d lot, my friends, is ours;
May we the privilege improve,
And find these consecrated hours
Sweet earnest of the joys above.
VII
We thank thee for thy day, O Lord!
Here we thy promised presence seek;
Open thine hand, with blessings stored,
And give us manna for the week.
46
Gospel Privileges
By Newton
I
O Happy they who know the Lord,
With whom he deigns to dwell!
He feels and cheers them by his word,
His arm supports them well.
II
To them, in each distressing hour,
His throne of grace is near;
And when they plead his love and power,
He stands engaged to hear.
III
He help’d his saints in ancient days,
Who trusted in his name;
And we can witness, to his praise,
His love is still the same.
IV
Wand’ring in sin, our souls he found,
And bade us seek his face;
Gave us to hear the gospel sound,
And taste the gospel grace.
V
Oft in his house his glory shines
Before our wond’ring eyes;
We wish not then for golden mines,
Or aught beneath the skies.
VI
His presence sweetens all our cares,
And makes our burdens light;
A word from him dispels our fears,
And gilds the gloom of night.
VII
Lord, we expect to suffer here,
Nor would we dare repine;
But give us still to find thee near,
And own us still for thine.
VIII
Let us enjoy and highly prize
These tokens of thy love
Till thou shalt bid our spirits rise
To worship thee above.
47
Another
By Newton
I
Happy are they to whom the Lord
His gracious name makes known,
And by his Spirit and his word
Adopts them for his own!
II
He calls them to his mercy-seat,
And hears their humble pray’r;
And when within his house they meet,
They find his presence near.
III
The force of their united cries
No power can long withstand;
For Jesus helps them from the skies
By his almighty hand.
IV
Then mountains sink at once to plains,
And light from darkness springs,
Each seeming loss improves their gains,
Each trouble comfort brings.
V
Though men despise them, or revile,
They count the trial small;
Whoever frowns, if Jesus smile,
It makes amends for all.
VI
Though meanly clad, and coarsely fed,
And, like their Saviour, poor,
They would not change their gospel-bread
For all the worldling’s store.
