Sanctuary, Beauty of

Verse 1

Again our earthly cares we leave,
And in thy courts appear;
Again, with joyful feet, we come
To meet our Savior here.

Verse 2

Within those walls let holy peace.
And love, and concord dwell;
Here give the troubled conscience ease--
The wounded spirit heal.

Verse 3

The feeling heart, the melting eye.
The humble mind bestow;
And shine upon us from on high,
To make our graces grow.

Verse 4

May we in faith receive thy word,
In faith present our prayers;
And in the presence of our Lord,
Unbosom all our cares.

Verse 5

Shew us some token of thy love,
Our fainting hope to raise;
And pour thy blessing from above,
That we may render praise.

Verse 1

Great God! attend while Zion sings
The joy that from thy presence springs;
To spend one day with thee on earth
Exceeds a thousand days of mirth.

Verse 2

Might I enjoy the meanest place
Within thy house, O God of grace!
Not tents of ease, nor thrones of power,
Should tempt my feet to leave thy door.

Verse 3

God is our sun, he makes our day;
God is our shield, he guards our way
From all th’ assaults of hell and sin,
From foes without and foes within.

Verse 4

All needful grace will God bestow,
And crown that grace with glory too;
He gives us all things, and withholds
No real good from upright souls.

Verse 5

O God, our King! whose sovereign sway
The glorious hosts of heaven obey,
And devils at thy presence flee;
Blest is the man that trusts in thee!

Verse 1

How charming is the place
Where my Redeemer God
Unveils the glories of his face,
And sheds his love abroad!

Verse 2

Here, on the mercy seat,
With radiant glory crowned,
Our joyful eyes behold him sit,
And smile on all around.

Verse 3

To him their prayers and cries,
Each contrite soul presents;
And while he hears their humble sighs
He grants them all their wants.

Verse 4

Give me, O Lord, a place
Within thy blest abode;
Among the children of thy grace,
The servants of my God.

Verse 1

How did my heart rejoice to hear
My friends devoutly say—
“In Zion let us all appear—
And keep the solemn day!”

Verse 2

I love her gates, I love the road;
The church, adorned with grace,
Stands like a palace, built for God,
To show his milder face.

Verse 3

Up to her courts, with joys unknown,
The holy tribes repair;
The Son of David holds his throne,
And sits in judgment there.

Verse 4

He hears our praises and complaints;
And, while his awful voice
Divides the sinners from the saints,
We tremble and rejoice.

Verse 5

Peace be within this sacred place,
And joy a constant guest!
With holy gifts and heavenly grace
By her attendants blest!

Verse 6

My soul shall pray for Zion still,
While life or breath remains;
There my best friends, my kindred, dwell,
There God, my Savior, reigns.

Verse 1

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.

Verse 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?

Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 1

How sweet to leave the world awhile,
And seek the presence of our Lord!
Dear Savior! on thy people smile,
And come, according to thy word.

Verse 2

From busy scenes we now retreat,
That we may here converse with thee:
Ah! Lord! behold us at thy feet;--
Let this the gate of heaven be.

Verse 3

Chief of ten thousand! now appear,
That we by faith may see thy face;
Oh! speak, that we thy voice may hear
And let thy presence fill this place.