2 We will not bring divided hearts
To worship at thy shrine!
But each unholy thought departs,
And leaves the temple thine.
3 Our Father, God below, above!
Man's noblest work is praise.
O fill our hearts with sacred love,
Whilst we our voices raise.
1 Thine influence, mighty God, is felt,
Through nature's ample round;
In heaven, on earth, thro' air and skies,
Thy energy is found.
2 Thy sacred influence, Lord, we need
To form our hearts anew;
O cleanse our souls from every sin,
And thy salvation shew!
3 Father of light! thine aid impart
To guide our doubtful way;
Thy truth shall scatter every cloud,
Ånd make a glorious day.
4 Supported by thy heavenly grace,
We'll do and bear thy will;
That grace shall make each burden light,
And every murmur still.
5 Cheer'd by thy smiles, we'll fearless tread
The gloomy path of death;
And with the hopes of endless bliss,
To thee resign our breath.
1 Lord, before thy presence come,
Bow we down with holy fear;
Call our erring footsteps home,
Let us feel that thou art near.
2 Wand'ring tho'ts and languid pow'rs,
Come not where devotion kneels ;
Let the soul expand her stores,
Glowing with the joy she feels.
3 At the portals of thine house,
We resign our earth-born cares;
Nobler thoughts our souls engross,
Songs of praise and fervent prayers.
4 Hapless men, whose footsteps stray
From the temples of the Lord!
Teach them wisdom's heav'nly way;
To their feet thy light afford.
5 Now begin the glorious song,
Theme of wonder, love and joy;
Angels! the glad notes prolong;
Seraphs! 'tis your blest employ,
Sincere worship alone acceptable.
1 O God! thou spirit, just and wise,
Who sees't our inmost mind
In vain to heav'n we raise our cries,
And leave our souls behind.
2 Nothing but truth before thy throne
With honour can appear;
The formal hypocrites are known
Through the disguise they wear.
3 Their lifted eye salutes the skies,
Their bended knees the ground;
But God abhors the sacrifice,
Where not the heart is found.
4 Lord! search my thoughts, and try my
And make my soul sincere ; Then may I stand before thy face, And find acceptance there.
Obedience better than sacrifice.
1 Wherewith shall I approach the Lord, And bow before his throne?
What shall sweet peace of mind afford? What for my faults atone?
2 Shall altars flame and victims bleed,
And spicy fumes ascend?
Will these my earnest wish succeed,
And make my God my friend?
3 Alas! 'twere idle mock'ry all,
Such victims bleed in vain ;
No fatlings from the field or stall
Such favour can obtain.
4 Well dost thou know what must delight,
And what acceptance win;
Repentance true, and heart upright,
And life estrang'd from sin.
5 To God with humble rev'rence bow,
And to his glory live;
To men their sacred rights allow,
And proofs of kindness give.
6 Hands that are clean, and hearts sincere
God never will despise ;
And cheerful duty he'll prefer
To costly sacrifice.
The vanity of forms without true piety.
1 Th' uplifted eye and bended knee
Are but vain homage, Lord! to thee;
In vain our lips thy praise prolong,
The heart a stranger to the song.
2 Can rites, and forms, and flaming zeal,
The breaches of thy precepts heal?
Or fasts and penance reconcile
Thy justice, and obtain thy smile?
3 The pure, the humble, contrite mind,
Sincere, and to thy will resigned,
To thee a nobler off'ring yields,
Than fragrant groves, or fertile fields.
4 Love God and man-this great command Doth on eternal pillars stand:
This did thine ancient prophets teach,
This did the great Messiah preach.
The inefficacy of hymns without devotion.
1 Great God! what rich provision's made, To fit our souls for heav'n!
How various are the means prepar'd!
How great the aid that's giv'n!
2 Thy word in ev'ry part displays
The wonders of thy grace:
But in the gospel brightest shines
Thy care for all our race.
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