Chapter 108
With salvation's walls surrounded, Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
2 See! the streams of living waters, Springing from eternal love, Well supply thy sons and daughters, And all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river Ever flows their thirst t' a.s.suage?
Grace, which, like the Lord the giver, Never fails from age to age.
3 Round each habitation hovering, See the cloud and fire appear!
For a glory and a covering, Showing that the Lord is near.
Fading is the worldling's pleasure, All his boasted pomp and show; Solid joys and lasting treasure None but Zion's children know.
654. S. M. Watts.
Safety of the Church.
1 How honored is the place Where we adoring stand!-- Zion, the glory of the earth, And beauty of the land.
2 Bulwarks of grace defend The city where we dwell, While walls, of strong salvation made, Defy th' a.s.saults of h.e.l.l.
3 Lift up th' eternal gates; The doors wide open fling; Enter, ye nations that obey The statutes of your King.
4 Here taste unmingled joys, And live in perfect peace, You that have known Jehovah's name, And ventured on his grace.
5 Trust in the Lord, ye saints, And banish all your fears; Strength in the Lord Jehovah dwells, Eternal as his years.
655. C. M. Anonymous.
The Jewish and the Christian Zion. Ps. 48.
1 With stately towers and bulwarks strong, Unrivalled and alone, Loved theme of many a sacred song, G.o.d's holy city shone.
2 Thus fair was Zion's chosen seat, The glory of all lands; Yet fairer, and in strength complete, The Christian temple stands.
3 The
4 In vain may hostile bands alarm, For G.o.d is her defence; How weak, how powerless is each arm, Against Omnipotence!
656. S. M. Watts.
Gospel Order.
1 Far as thy name is known The world declares thy praise; Thy saints, O Lord, before thy throne, Their songs of honor raise.
2 Let strangers walk around The city where we dwell, Survey with care thine holy ground, And mark the building well,--
3 The order of thy house, The wors.h.i.+p of thy court, The cheerful songs, the solemn vows, And make a fair report.
4 How decent and how wise!
How glorious to behold!
Beyond the pomp that charms the eyes, And rites adorned with gold.
5 The G.o.d we wors.h.i.+p now Will guide us till we die,-- Will be our G.o.d while here below, And ours above the sky.
657. S. M. Dwight.
Attachment to the Church.
1 I love thy church, O G.o.d; Her walls before thee stand, Dear as the apple of thine eye, And graven on thy hand.
2 For her my tears shall fall; For her my prayers ascend; To her my cares and toils be given, Till toils and cares shall end.
3 Beyond my highest joy I prize her heavenly ways, Her sweet communion, solemn vows, Her hymns of love and praise.
4 Father and Friend divine, Our Saviour and our King, Thy hand, from every snare and foe, Shall great deliverance bring.
5 Sure as thy truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven.
658. C. M. S. F. Smith.
Christian Fellows.h.i.+p.
1 Planted in Christ, the living vine, This day with one accord, Ourselves, with humble faith and joy, We yield to thee, O Lord.
2 Joined in one body may we be: One inward life partake; One be our heart; one heavenly hope In every bosom wake.
3 In prayer, in effort, tears, and toils, One Wisdom be our guide; Taught by one Spirit from above, In thee may we abide.
4 Around this feeble, trusting band Thy sheltering pinions spread, Nor let the storms of trial beat Too fiercely on our head.
5 Then, when, among the saints in light, Our joyful spirits s.h.i.+ne, Shall anthems of immortal praise, O Lamb of G.o.d, be thine.