2 The King himself comes near, And feasts his saints to-day: Here may we sit and see him here, And love, and praise, and pray.
3 One day, amid the place Where Christ my Lord, hath been, Is sweeter than ten thousand days Within the tents of sin.
4 My willing soul would stay In such a frame as this, And sit and sing herself away To everlasting bliss.
How pleased and blessed was I, To hear the people cry-- "Come, let us seek our God to-day!" Yes, with a cheerful zeal, We haste to Zion's hill, And there our vows and honors pay.
2 Zion! thrice happy place, Adorned with wondrous grace And walls of strength embrace thee round; In thee our tribes appear, To pray, and praise, and hear The sacred gospel's joyful sound.
3 May peace attend thy gate, And joy within thee wait, To bless the soul of every guest: The man who seeks thy peace, And wishes thine increase-- A thousand blessings on him rest!
628 7s, double. Hail the day that saw him rise.
Hail the day that saw him rise, Ravished from his people's eyes; Christ, awhile to mortals given, Re-ascends his native heaven. There the glorious triumph waits-- "Lift your heads, you heavenly gates; Wide unfold the radiant scene, Take the King of glory in."
2 He, whom highest heaven receives, Ever loves the friends he leaves; Though returning to his throne, Still he calls his saints his own; Still for us he intercedes, Prevalent his death he pleads; Near himself prepares a place, Harbinger of human race.
3 Taken from our eyes to-day, Master, hear us when we pray; See thy needy servants, see, Ever gazing up to thee: Grant, though parted from our sight, Far above yon azure hight, Grant our hearts may thither rise, Follow thee beyond the skies.
4 Ever upward let us move, Wafted on the wings of love; Looking when the Lord shall come, Longing, reaching after home; There for ever to remain, Partners of thy endless reign; There thy face unclouded see, Find our heaven of heavens in thee.
629 7s, 6 lines. Springs in the desert. Isaiah 49:10.
Safely through another week God has brought us on our way; Let us each a blessing seek, Waiting in his courts to-day: Day of all the week the best, Emblem of eternal rest.
2 While we seek supplies of grace Through the blest Redeemer's name, Show thy reconciling face, Take away our sin and shame: From our worldly care set free, May we rest this day in thee.