The Pleasure of public Worship: With ardent hope, with strong desire, My heart, my flesh, to Thee aspire; I burn to tread thy courts, and Thee My God, my living God, to see.

How sweet thy dwellings, Lord, how fair! What peace, what bliss, inhabit there! Eternal King! within thy doom

The sparrow finds a peaceful home;

With her the dove, a licens'd guest,
Assiduous tends her infant nest,
And to thine altar's sure defence
Commits th' unfeather'd innocence.

Blest, who, like these, from day to day
Within thy house permitted stay,
Whose joyous tongues thy mercies raise
To hymns of gratitude and praise.

From stage to stage advancing still,
Behold them reach fair Sion's hill,
And, prostrate at her hallow'd shrine,

Adore the Majesty divine.

Longing after the House of God.

O Thou, whom heav'ns high hosts revere,
God of our fathers! bow the ear,
And let thy beams, in mercy shed,
Stream copious on th' anointed head!

One day if in thy courts I dwell,
That day a thousand shall excel :
Amidst the menial tribe to wait,
And guard th' approaches of thy gate;

Far happier task my soul shall find,
Than, mix'd with men of impious mind,
To see the proud pavilion spread
Its dazzling splendors o'er my head.

Thou, Lord, art Israel's sun and shield;
Thy love shall grace and glory yield,
Nor e'er permit the pious train
Thy gifts to ask, and ask in vain.

Blessed Effects of Christ's Advent,

Behold, ye souls, that own his fear,
Behold your wish'd redemption near;
See glory, bursting from the skies,
O'er Judah's land effulgent rise.

See verity and mercy meet,

And fix amidst her coasts their seat;
Truth from thy furrows, earth, shall spring,
And righteousness with healing wing.

With mutual step advancing, there
Shall peace and justice, heavenly pair,
To lasting compact onward move,
Seal'd by the kiss of sacred love.

These, as on earth thy feet shall tread,
Shall march direct, with lifted head
Preceding, and with duteous care

Thy path, eternal King, prepare

Petition for the divine Assistance,
Behold, their Maker taught to own,
Earth's future sons before his throne
In Sion suppliant kneel, and raise
To Israel's God their joyful lays.

Eternal Excellence! thy hand

At will shall nature's pow'rs command;
Thy wonders, through her confines wide,
She speaks, nor owns a God beside.

O give me, Lord, thy paths to tread,
And while thy truth my steps shall lead,
(The faithful guide by Thee assign'd,)
Train to thy fear my willing mind.

My heart, by sacred zeal impell'd,
To Thee the grateful song shall yield;
Long as I breathe the vital air,

Thy love my loudest praise shall share.

The Mercies of God.

The heav'n above, and earth below, Thee, Lord, their great possessor know: By Thee this orb to being rose,

And all that nature's bounds inclose.

Strong is thine arm; thy stedfast will
Thy hands with sure effect fulfil;
While white-rob'd truth and mercy fair
Thy steps precede, thy path prepare.

O, blest the tribes, whose willing ear
Awakes the festal shout to hear;
Who thankful see, where'er they tread,
Thy fav'ring beams around them spread.

How shall they joy from day to day
Thy boundless mercy to display,
Thy righteousness, indulgent Lord,
With holy transport to record!

O, wise in all thy works! thy Name
Let man's whole race aloud proclaim,
And grateful, through the length of days,
In ceaseless songs repeat thy praise.