SONGS FOR THE SABBATH.

57.

THE DAY OF WORSHIP.

With joy, O Lord, we hail this day,
Which Thou didst call Thine own;
With joy the summons we obey
To worship at Thy throne.

O grant us peace in heart and home,
And every soul unite

To thank Thee for the day that's blest
And keep it with delight.

And Thou, O God! when life is o'er,
Thy mercy may be given,

That we may find most blissful rest
Eternally in heaven.

58.

SABBATH PRAYER.

With joyful heart I greet again
This sacred day of rest,
To chant within Thy holy fane,
And bow at Thy behest.

On Thee, O God! my hopes rely,
Thy name be ever praised;
Vouchsafe to bless and sanctify

These strains devoutly raised.

H. S. J.

Oh! banish hence, far from my mind,
All evil thoughts away,

And grant my soul may favor find
On this Thy holy day.

And at the altar as I bend,
To supplicate Thy care,
In mercy, Lord! Thy blessing send
Upon my humble prayer.

59.

HEAVENLY GIFT.

P. M.

Heavenly gift to weary mortals,
Day of worshipful repose;
Opening salvation's portals,
Bringing rest at labor's close.
Happy he whom Thou hast blest,
Quiet day of holy rest.

Enter then, O day, most glorious,
Fill our hearts with heavenly love;
Come, O Sabbath, bear victorious
Unto God our souls above.

Thou that bringest joy and rest,
Quiet Sabbath day, be blest.

60.

H.-I. S. M.

IN HARMONY WITH HEAVEN.

In harmony with heaven's peace,
Sabbath's deep repose descends,
From toil the weary to release,

The sordid draw from worldly ends.
Lord! let devotion fill our hearts,
Ere time's serenest day departs.

Rest, worshippers! and pray and sing,
To the Healer of all woes,

From whose exhaustless, balmy spring
Consolation ever flows.

Here with the burthened spirit gain
Courage, all trials to sustain.

O God! let passion's flood recede
From Thy hallowed dwelling-place,
Lest from the soul Thy moral creed
Its wild current may efface;

And from that inner temple sweep
The statutes we should therein keep.

Hear us! when we uplift our hands
In fervent supplication,

That Thou wilt bless and speed all plans
For freedom's preservation;

And o'er the country of our love,

Let peace, the Sabbath-angel, move.

P. M.

61.

HOLY SABBATH-REST!

Holy Sabbath-rest!

Pious lips hail thy advent;

With thee God His love hath sent,
Mind and heart of man to guard,

And to lead him heavenward.

Holy Sabbath-joy!

O! our yearning soul inspire:
Warm us with thy heavenly fire,
That in sacred hymns of praise
We to God our hearts upraise.

Father Everlasting!

From Thy holy throne of grace
To Thy children turn Thy face;
Bless this day-preferred by Thee-
Emblem of eternity.

62.

GATHER AND WORSHIP!

J. K. G.

Gather and worship! The first star of eve
To usher the Sabbath in glory appears,
As that day of rest comes from gloom to
relieve

The spirits that toil in the valley of tears.

Gather and worship! Can Judah forget The soul-cheering promise of Mercy supreme?

Though few, where the righteous in God's name are met,

On these shall the light of His countenance beam.

Gather and worship! These hours serene
To labors of holiness e'er dedicate;
With waters of penitence make your hearts
clean,

Or meekly the woes of the poor mitigate.

Gather and worship! The stars as they move, To faith, in their orbits of glory appear Like Sabbath-lamps, lighted by angels above, To lure human hearts to their own house of prayer.

Gather and worship! The power of time Shall cause every planet in heaven to wane; But there, ever fixed, is a star more sublime, The soul that on earth has contracted no stain.

63.

SABBATH EVENTIDE.

Holy Sabbath eventide,

Welcome, welcome be thy rest!
Golden peace, as angels glide,
Softly enters now our breast.

Holy message from on high

P. M.

Comes with thee, most blest of days,
Comfort thou all hearts that sigh,
Pledge of heaven's covenant-grace.
Sabbath-peace, oh let thy calm
Bring its healing on its wing,
And the sweetness of thy balm
Make all hearts in gladness sing!

64.

THE DAY OF HOLY REST.

I. M. W.

God spoke and thro' the gloom profound
Effulgent light its glory shed;

He breathed-and all the earth around
With living myriads soon was spread.