How pleasant, how divinely fair, O Lord of hosts, thy dwellings are! With long desire my spirit faints, To meet the assemblies of thy saints. 2 My flesh would rest in thine abode; My panting heart cries out for God; My God! my King! why should I be So far from all my joys and thee? 3 Blest are the souls who find a place Within the temple of thy grace; There they behold thy gentler rays, And seek thy face and learn thy praise. 4 Blest are the men whose hearts are set To find the way to Zion's gate; God is their strength, and through the road They lean upon their helper, God. 5 Cheerful they walk with growing strength, Till all shall meet in heaven at length; Till all before thy face appear, And join in nobler worship there. Isaac Watts, 1719 38 Ward. L.M. _Before Sermon._ (122) Thy presence, gracious God! afford: Prepare us to receive thy word; Now let thy voice engage our ear, And faith be mixed with what we hear. 2 Distracting thoughts and cares remove, And fix our hearts and hopes above; With food divine may we be fed And satisfied with living bread. 3 To us thy sacred word apply, With sovereign power and energy; And may we, in thy faith and fear, Reduce to practice what we hear. 4 Father, in us thy Son reveal; Teach us to know and do thy will; Thy saving power and love display. And guide us to the realms of day. John Fawcett. 1782. 39 Migdol. L.M. _Acts 2:1._ (792) Command thy blessing from above O God, on all assembled here; Behold us with a Father's love, While we look up with filial fear. 2 Command thy blessing, Jesus, Lord! May we thy true disciples be; Speak to each heart the mighty word-- Say to the weakest, follow me. 3 Command thy blessing in this hour, Spirit of truth! and till the place With wounding and with healing power, With quickening and confirming grace. 4 Oh, thou, our Maker, Savior, Guide, One true, eternal God confessed; Whom thou hast joined none may divide, None dare to curse whom thou hast blest. James Montgomery 40 Mear. C.M. _God's Presence in Sanctuary_. (111) Again our earthly cares we leave, And in thy courts appear; Again, with joyful feet, we come To meet our Savior here. 2 Within those walls let holy peace. And love, and concord dwell; Here give the troubled conscience ease-- The wounded spirit heal. 3 The feeling heart, the melting eye. The humble mind bestow; And shine upon us from on high, To make our graces grow. 4 May we in faith receive thy word, In faith present our prayers; And in the presence of our Lord, Unbosom all our cares. 5 Shew us some token of thy love, Our fainting hope to raise; And pour thy blessing from above, That we may render praise. John Newton, 1779, _a._ 41 Mear. C.M. _Dedication_. (1175) Oh, thou, whose own vast temple stands, Built over earth and sea! Accept the walls that human hands Have raised to worship thee.