Sabbath

Verse 1

Another six days’ work is done,
Another Sabbath is begun;
Return, my soul, enjoy thy rest,
Improve the day thy God hath blest.

Verse 2

Come, bless the Lord, whose love assigns
So sweet a rest to wearied minds,
Provides an antepast of heaven,
And gives this day the food of seven.

Verse 3

O that our thoughts and thanks may rise,
As grateful incense, to the skies;
And draw from heaven that sweet repose
Which none but he that feels it knows.

Verse 4

This heavenly calm within the breast
Is the dear pledge of glorious rest
Which for the Church of God remains,
The end of cares, the end of pains.

Verse 5

In holy duties let the day,
In holy pleasures, pass away:
How sweet a Sabbath thus to spend,
In hope of one that ne’er shall end.

Verse 1

Come, dearest Lord, and feed thy sheep,
On this sweet day of rest;
Oh, bless this flock, and make this fold
Enjoy a heavenly rest.

Verse 2

Welcome, and precious to my soul
Are these sweet days of love;
But what a Sabbath shall I keep
When I shall rest above!

Verse 3

I come, I wait, I hear, I pray;
Thy footsteps. Lord. I trace;
Here, in thine own appointed way,
I wait to see thy face.

Verse 4

Those are the sweet and precious days
On which my Lord I’ve seen;
And oft, when feasting on his word,
In raptures I have been.

Verse 5

Oh, if my soul, when death appears.
In this sweet frame be found,
I’ll clasp my Savior in mine arms,
And leave this earthly ground.

Verse 1

Hail, thou bright and sacred morn,
Risen with gladness in thy beams!
Light, which not of earth is born,
From thy dawn in glory streams:
Airs of heaven are breathed around,
And each place is holy ground.

Verse 2

Sad and weary were our way,
Fainting oft beneath our load,
But for thee, thou blessed day,
Resting-place on life’s rough road:
Here flow forth the streams of grace;
Strengthened hence we run our race.

Verse 3

Great Creator, who this day
From Thy perfect work didst rest,
By the souls that own Thy sway
Hallowed be its hours and blest;
Cares of earth aside be thrown,
This day given to heaven alone.

Verse 4

Saviour, who this day didst break
The dark prison of the tomb,
Bid my slumbering soul awake;
Shine through all its sin and gloom:
Let me, from my bonds set free,
Rise from sin, and live to Thee.

Verse 5

Blessed Spirit, Comforter,
Sent this day from Christ on high;
Lord, on me Thy gifts confer,
Cleanse, illumine, sanctify:
All Thine influence shed abroad;
Lead me to the truth of God.

Verse 1

How sweetly breaks the Sabbath dawn
Along the eastern skies!
So, when the night of time hath gone,
Eternity shall rise.

Verse 2

How softly spreads the Sabbath light!
How soon the gloom hath fled!
So o’er the new created sight
Celestial bliss is spread.

Verse 3

What quiet reigns o’er earth and sea,
Through all the stilly air!
So calm may we this Sabbath be,
And free from worldly care.

Verse 4

Thus let thy peace, O Lord! pervade
Our bosoms all our days;
And let each passing hour be made
A herald of thy praise.

Verse 5

This peace of God--how full! how sweet
It flows from Jesus’ breast;
It makes our bliss on earth complete,
It brings eternal rest.

Verse 1

Light of Light, enlighten me,
Now anew the day is dawning;
Sun of grace, the shadows flee;
Brighten Thou my Sabbath morning;
With Thy joyous sunshine blest,
Happy is my day of rest.

Verse 2

Fount of all our joy and peace,
To Thy living waters lead me;
Thou from earth my soul release,
And with grace and mercy feed me;
Bless Thy Word, that it may prove
Rich in fruits that Thou dost love.

Verse 3

Kindle Thou the sacrifice
That upon my lips is lying;
Clear the shadows from mine eyes,
That, from every error flying,
No strange fire may in me glow
That Thine altar doth not know.

Verse 4

Let me with my heart to-day,
Holy, Holy, Holy, singing,
Rapt awhile from earth away,
All my soul to Thee upspringing,
Have a foretaste inly given
How they worship Thee in heaven.

Verse 5

Rest in me, and I in Thee;
Build a paradise within me;
O reveal Thyself to me,
Blessed Love, who diedst to win me;
Fed from Thine exhaustless urn,
Pure and bright my lamp shall burn.

Verse 6

Hence all care, all vanity,
For the day to God is holy;
Come, Thou glorious Majesty,
Deign to fill this temple lowly;
Nought to-day my soul shall move,
Simply resting in Thy love.

Verse 1

Lord of the Sabbath, hear us pray,
In this Thy house, on this Thy day;
And own, as grateful sacrifice,
The songs which from Thy temple rise.

Verse 2

Now met to pray, and bless Thy Name,
Whose mercies flow each day the same,
Whose kind compassions never cease,
We seek instruction, pardon, peace.

Verse 3

Thy day of rest, O Lord, we love,
But look for truer rest above;
To that our laboring souls aspire
With ardent hope and strong desire.

Verse 4

In Thy blest kingdom we shall be
From every mortal trouble free;
No sighs shall mingle with the songs
Resounding from immortal tongues;

Verse 5

No rude alarms of raging foes;
No cares to break the long repose;
No midnight shade, no waning moon,
But sacred, high, eternal noon.

Verse 6

O long-expected day, begin,
Dawn on these realms of woe and sin!
Break, morn of God, upon our eyes!
And let the world’s true Sun arise!

Verse 1

My Lord, my Love, was crucified,
He all the pains did bear;
But in the sweetness of His rest
He makes His servants share.

Verse 2

How sweetly rest Thy saints above
Which in Thy bosom lie;
The Church below doth rest in hope
Of that felicity.

Verse 3

Thou, Lord, who daily feed’st Thy sheep,
Mak’st them a weekly feast;
Thy flocks meet in their several folds
Upon this day of rest.

Verse 4

Welcome and dear unto my soul
Are these sweet feasts of love;
But what a Sabbath shall I keep
When I shall rest above!

Verse 5

I bless Thy wise and wondrous love,
Which binds us to be free;
Which makes us leave our earthly snares,
That we may come to Thee.

Verse 6

I come, I wait, I hear, I pray,
Thy footsteps, Lord, I trace;
I sing to think this is the way
Unto my Saviour’s face.

Verse 1

O day of rest and gladness,
O day of joy and light,
O balm of care and sadness,
Most beautiful, most bright;
On thee the high and lowly,
Through ages joined in tune,
Sing Holy, Holy, Holy,
To the great God Triune.

Verse 2

On thee, at the creation,
The light first had its birth:
On thee, for our salvation,
Christ rose from depths of earth;
On thee our Lord, victorious,
The Spirit sent from heaven;
And thus on thee, most glorious,
A triple light was given.

Verse 3

Thou art a port protected
From storms that round us rise;
A garden intersected
With streams of Paradise;
Thou art a cooling fountain
In life’s dry, dreary sand;
From thee, like Pisgah’s mountain,
We view our promised land.

Verse 4

To-day on weary nations
The heavenly manna falls:
To holy convocations
The silver trumpet calls,
Where gospel light is glowing
With pure and radiant beams,
And living water flowing
With soul-refreshing streams.

Verse 5

New graces ever gaining
From this our day of rest,
We reach the rest remaining
To spirits of the blest.
To Holy Ghost be praises,
To Father, and to Son;
The Church her voice upraises
To Thee, blest Three in One.

Verse 1

O day of rest and gladness,
O day of joy and light,
O balm of care and sadness,
Most beautiful, most bright;
On thee the high and lowly,
Through ages joined in tune,
Sing Holy, Holy, Holy,
To the great God Triune.

Verse 2

On thee, at the creation,
The light first had its birth:
On thee, for our salvation,
Christ rose from depths of earth;
On thee our Lord, victorious,
The Spirit sent from heaven;
And thus on thee, most glorious,
A triple light was given.

Verse 3

Thou art a port protected
From storms that round us rise;
A garden intersected
With streams of Paradise;
Thou art a cooling fountain
In life’s dry, dreary sand;
From thee, like Pisgah’s mountain,
We view our promised land.

Verse 4

To-day on weary nations
The heavenly manna falls:
To holy convocations
The silver trumpet calls,
Where gospel light is glowing
With pure and radiant beams,
And living water flowing
With soul-refreshing streams.

Verse 5

New graces ever gaining
From this our day of rest,
We reach the rest remaining
To spirits of the blest.
To Holy Ghost be praises,
To Father, and to Son;
The Church her voice upraises
To Thee, blest Three in One.

Verse 1

O day of rest and gladness,
O day of joy and light!
O balm of care and sadness,
Most beautiful, most bright!
On thee, the high and lowly,
Before th’ eternal throne,
Sing Holy! Holy! Holy!
To the great Three in One.

Verse 2

On thee, at the creation.
The light first had its birth;
On thee for our salvation,
Christ rose from depths of earth.
On thee, our Lord, victorious,
The Spirit sent from heaven,
And thus on thee, most glorious,
A triple light was given.

Verse 3

New graces ever gaining
From this our day of rest,
We reach the rest remaining
To spirits of the blest;
To Holy Ghost be praises,
To Father and to Son;
The church her voice upraises
To thee, blest Three in One.

Verse 1

Safely thro’ another week,
God has bro’t us on our way;
Let us now a blessing seek,
Waiting in his courts to-day;
Day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eternal rest.

Verse 2

While we seek supplies of grace
Through the dear Redeemer’s name,
Show thy reconciling face;
Take away our sin and shame;
From our worldly cares set free;
May we rest, this day, in thee.

Verse 3

May the gospel’s joyful sound
Conquer sinners, comfort saints,
Make the fruits of grace abound,
Bring relief from all complaints;
Thus let all our Sabbaths prove,
Till we join the church above.

Verse 1

Softly fades the twilight ray
Of the holy Sabbath day;
Gently as life’s setting sun,
When the Christian’s course is run.

Verse 2

Night her solemn mantle spreads
O’er the earth as daylight fades;
All things tell of calm repose
At the holy Sabbath’s close.

Verse 3

Peace is on the world abroad;
’Tis the holy peace of God--
Symbol of the peace within,
When the spirit rests from sin.

Verse 4

Savior, may our Sabbaths be
Days of peace and joy in thee,
Till in heav’n our souls repose,
Where the Sabbath ne’er shall close.

Verse 1

Sweet is the work, my God, my King,
To praise Thy Name, give thanks, and sing;
To show Thy love by morning light,
And tell of all Thy truth at night.

Verse 2

Sweet is the day of sacred rest;
No mortal care shall seize my breast;
O may my heart in tune be found,
Like David’s harp of solemn sound.

Verse 3

My heart shall triumph in my Lord,
And bless His works, and bless His word:
Thy works of grace, how bright they shine!
How deep Thy counsels, how Divine!

Verse 4

But I shall share a glorious part
When grace hath well refined my heart,
And fresh supplies of joy are shed,
Like holy oil to cheer my head.

Verse 5

Then shall I see, and hear, and know,
All I desired or wished below;
And every power find sweet employ
In that eternal world of joy.

Verse 1

This day, at Thy creating word,
First o’er the earth the light was poured:
O Lord, this day upon us shine,
And fill our souls with light Divine.

Verse 2

This day the Lord, for sinners slain,
In might victorious rose again:
O Jesus, may we raised be
From death of sin to life in Thee.

Verse 3

This day the Holy Spirit came
With fiery tongues of cloven flame:
O Spirit, fill our hearts this day
With grace to hear, and grace to pray.

Verse 4

O day of light, and life, and grace,
From earthly toils sweet resting-place!
Thy hallowed hours, best gift of Love,
Give we again to God above.

Verse 5

All praise to God the Father be,
All praise, Eternal Son, to Thee,
Whom, with the Spirit, we adore
For ever and for evermore.

Verse 1

This is the day of light:
Let there be light to-day;
O Dayspring, rise upon our night,
And chase its gloom away.

Verse 2

This is the day of rest:
Our failing strength renew;
On weary brain and troubled breast
Shed Thou Thy freshening dew.

Verse 3

This is the day of peace:
Thy peace our spirits fill;
Bid Thou the blasts of discord cease,
The waves of strife be still.

Verse 4

This is the day of prayer:
Let earth to heaven draw near:
Lift up our hearts to seek Thee there:
Come down to meet us here.

Verse 5

This is the first of days:
Send forth Thy quickening breath,
And wake dead souls to love and praise,
O Vanquisher of death!

Verse 1

This is the day the Lord hath made;
He calls the hours His own;
Let heaven rejoice, let earth be glad,
And praise surround the throne.

Verse 2

To-day He rose and left the dead,
And Satan’s empire fell;
To-day the saints His triumphs spread,
And all His wonders tell.

Verse 3

Hosanna to the anointed King,
To David’s holy Son!
Help us, O Lord; descend and bring
Salvation from the throne.

Verse 4

Blest be the Lord, who comes to men
With messages of grace;
Who comes in God His Father’s Name
To save our sinful race.

Verse 5

Hosanna in the highest strains
The Church on earth can raise!
The highest heavens in which He reigns
Shall give Him nobler praise.

Verse 1

Welcome, delightful morn,
Thou day of sacred rest;
I hail thy kind return:
Lord, make these moments blest:
From the low train of mortal toys,
I soar to reach immortal joys.

Verse 2

Now may the King descend,
And fill His throne of grace:
Thy sceptre, Lord, extend,
While saints address Thy face;
Let sinners feel Thy quickening word,
And learn to know and fear the Lord.

Verse 3

Descend, celestial Dove,
With all Thy quickening powers;
Disclose a Saviour’s love,
And bless these sacred hours;
Then shall my soul new life obtain,
Nor Sabbaths e’er be spent in vain.

Verse 1

Welcome, delightful morn!
Thou day of sacred rest;
I hail thy kind return;
Lord, make these moments blest;
From the low train of mortal toys
I soar to reach immortal joys.

Verse 2

Now may the King descend,
And fill his throne of grace;
Thy scepter, Lord, extend,
While saints address thy face!
Let sinners feel thy quickening word,
And learn to know and fear the Lord.

Verse 3

Descend, celestial Dove,
With all thy quickening powers;
Disclose a Savior’s love,
And bless the sacred hours;
Then shall my soul new life obtain,
Nor Sabbaths be indulged in vain.

Verse 1

Welcome, sacred day of rest!
Sweet repose from worldly care;
Day above all days the best,
When our souls for heav’n prepare;
Day, when our Redeemer rose,
Victor o’er the hosts of hell;
Thus he vanquished all our foes;
Let our lips his glory tell.

Verse 2

Gracious Lord! we love this day,
When we hear thy holy word;
When we sing thy praise, and pray,
Earth can no such joys afford;
But a better rest remains,
Heav’nly Sabbaths, happier days,
Rest from sin, and rest from pains,
Endless joys and endless praise.

Verse 1

Welcome, sweet day of rest,
That saw the Lord arise:
Welcome to this reviving breast,
And these rejoicing eyes.

Verse 2

The King Himself comes near,
And feasts His saints to-day:
Here we may sit, and see Him here,
And love, and praise, and pray.

Verse 3

One day amidst the place
Where my dear God hath been,
Is sweeter than ten thousand days
Of pleasurable sin.

Verse 4

My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,
And wait to hail the brighter day
Of everlasting bliss.

Verse 1

Welcome! sweet day of rest,
That saw the Lord arise!
Welcome to this reviving breast,
And these rejoicing eyes!

Verse 2

The King himself comes near,
And feasts his saints to-day;
Here we may sit and see him here,
And love, and praise, and pray.

Verse 3

One day in such a place,
Where thou, my God, art seen,
Is sweeter than ten thousand days
Of pleasurable sin.

Verse 4

My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,
And sit and sing herself away
To everlasting bliss.

Verse 1

When the worn spirit wants repose,
And sighs her God to seek,
How sweet to hail the evening’s close
That ends the weary week!

Verse 2

How sweet to hail the early dawn
That opens on the sight,
When first that soul-reviving morn
Sheds forth new rays of light!

Verse 3

Sweet day! thine hours too soon will cease;
Yet, while they gently roll,
Breathe, heavenly Spirit, source of peace,
A Sabbath o’er my soul.

Verse 4

When will my pilgrimage be done,
The world’s long week be o’er,
That Sabbath dawn which needs no sun,
That day which fades no more?