I was glad when they said- when they said unto me,
"Let us go to the house of the Lord.
Let us enter within Salem's gates with his tribes
To give thanks to the name of the Lord."
Jerusalem, all they that love thee shall prosper,
Their joy shall forever increase-
So, because of the house of the Lord, I will seek
All thy good and will pray for thy peace.
I am called by thy name and am formed for thy glory
And precious, my Lord, in thy sight.
Thou hast loved me and kept me- the sun shall not smite me
By day, nor the moon by the night.
For death cannot celebrate God and the grave
Cannot praise thee. By this, I now know-
At the last day, when Christ shall return, I shall rise.
Thou hast promised this, Lord: it is so.
My Jesus, the living, the living shall praise thee
As I do this day, for thou hast,
In love to my soul from the pit of corruption,
Delivered it when thou didst cast
My sins all my sins far behind thee and buried
In waters no being can ford
And, therefore, we will sing these songs all the days
Of our life in the house of the Lord.
I write of one with eyes like purest doves-
Who loves me and has bid me with him dine.
To go, I would forsake all other loves
For I am my Beloved's, he is mine.
The voice of my Beloved! Speak to me...
I sleep, yet my heart wakes to hear his call;
When drawn, I will run after him, for he
Is altogether lovely-Christ my all.
Ah then, when in the clouds he shall declare,
"Rise up, my love, my fair one-come away!"
I shall, unspotted, meet him in the air.
Until at daybreak shadows flee away,
My Lord's desire for me shall see no end-
For this is my Beloved, this my Friend.
Who trusts in Jehovah to save him from all of man's harms,
His soul shall be bound in the bundle of life with the Lord;
And, underneath, shall be his God's everlasting, strong arms
To comfort and love him as others could never afford.
Who, faced with adversity, unto his Refuge does fly,
His mind shall be stayed on the Savior close by at his side;
For he that does dwell in the secret place of the Most High
Shall under the shadow of Christ the Almighty abide.
Whose enemies have, for a season, their triumph enjoyed,
Him God shall avenge in the holiest depths of his rage.
The wicked may flourish- it is that they shall be destroyed;
Yet, he shall be planted and still bring forth fruit in old age.
Whose spirit is quickened by that which God's Spirit has done,
Whose heart has believed on the One whom the Father did give,
He has been redeemed by the blood sacrifice of the Son,
So this we may joyfully say of him, "Yet shall he live!"
O Lord our Lord, how excellent
Is all your holy name:
In awe, I stand before your works
Considering the same.
The moon and stars ordained by you
Are wondrous past compare.
How can I, gazing on them all,
Not know the God who's there?
For all the things invisible
Of him I clearly see,
And understand, by what he's made,
His power over me.
For what is man, that you have put
All things beneath his feet?
Or even babes, that from their mouth
Your foes you will defeat?
Professing then themselves to be
As wise, they fools became,
While those on whom you set your love
Did simply trust your name.
A name at which all knees shall bow
And every tongue confess
That Jesus Christ shall ever be,
"The Lord our Righteousness."
My God, I so desire that day-
Come quickly, then, for me.
O Lord our Lord, how excellent
Your name will ever be.
His sovereignty and love are ever bound
Together in a never breaking cord;
A union, indissoluble and sound,
Perfected by the blood that he outpoured.
For God- his only Son he did not spare
But gave him for a world cursed by the fall.
How shall he then, when called upon in prayer,
Not with him also freely give us all?
We know that he who has in us begun
A good work will perform it to the day
Of Jesus Christ- God's own begotten Son;
Our risen Lord, who hears us when we pray.
And oh what consolation to have found
His sovereignty and love are ever bound.
Come thou with us, and we will do thee good,
For we are gathered here in Jesus' name.
And he who bought this church with his own blood
Was, is, and will be evermore the same.
Come, see a man- is not this Christ the Lord?-
Who told us all things ever that we did.
Yet, we are washed of water by the Word
So that, in him, our lives are wholly hid.
Come to a place where needs are satisfied,
Where we can, since he cares, cast cares away.
Come to the cross and witness where he died
And then come see the tomb where Jesus lay.
Come to a place where souls can be set free.
Come thou with us, and go to Calvary.
Be thou, Lord, my rock and fortress;
For thy name's sake, be my guide-
Thou shalt hide me in the secret
Of thy presence from man's pride.
Thou art God; my Lord, I trust thee-
Gladly, now, my worship take.
Make thy face to shine upon me:
Save me for thy mercies' sake.
Friend much closer than a brother,
In thy presence I am blessed.
I would feel thy gentle heartbeat-
Grant that on thee I may rest.
In the multitude within me
Of my thoughts, thy comforts, Lord,
Make my soul to be delighted
As it hungers for thy Word.
Holy whispers all around me
From thy Spirit softly blown
Touch me with a calm assurance-
I am chosen as thine own.
Lord, in life thou art beside me
And through death by thee I'll stand.
To thee, I commit my spirit,
For my times are in thy hand.
You love me Lord, because you've chosen to,
And not for righteous works that I have done.
For as the early clouds and morning dew,
My goodness can't survive the risen Sun.
Fast save me now with healing in your wings,
For, by your lovingkindness, I am torn.
Because I oft transgress in many things,
You scrourge this son who, by your will, was born.
Yet, grant the grace to love you all my days,
To thirst unquenched unless I'm bound to you,
To make you all my passion and my praise,
To ever bow amazed at all you do.
My Father freely gave from up above
His only Son to offer. God is love.
Christ, the Shepherd of my life,
I rest me in thy fold.
Faithful art thou, Lord, and True-
Thy counsels are of old.
My spirit longs to hear thy name,
My soul to see thy face.
Bless me, Lord, and keep me always
Covered in thy grace.
I will exalt thee, thou art God,
Thy praise, my lips shall form;
For thou hast been a strength, O Lord,
A refuge from the storm.
Thou that makest dry the sea
Because it is thy will,
Wipe the tears from off mine eyes,
Assure me, "Peace be still."
When all about shall seem to be
A whirl wind on the sea,
My mind shall stay in perfect peace
Because I trust in thee.
Guide me, Lord, o'er paths you've chosen:
Set for me to walk within.
Not to right nor left digress me;
Keep me from presumptuous sin.
Make me neither poor nor wealthy;
Take far from me lies and fame,
Lest I say, "My God, who needs you?"
Or defile your holy name.
You are righteous, Lord, and upright
Are your judgments. Judge me, then,
That I might be more like Jesus:
Sanctified and freed from sin.
Teach me, Father, how to trust you,
How to not depend on man.
Lead me, God, and daily show me
How I fit into your plan.
Make your Word a lantern for me
While above are darkened skies.
Light my heart until the day dawn
And the Day Star in me rise.
Drink, my thirsty soul, of waters
Jesus Christ your Lord supplies.
Taste the life blood freely flowing
As upon a cross he dies.
Seek the Lord while you may find him;
Call on him and you will live.
By his death, your God has spoken.
By his death, he will forgive.
Why then would you vainly labor
In what cannot satisfy?
Jesus Christ has bought your pardon:
Solely on his work rely.
And the hills will break forth singing
Midst the clapping hands of trees
For my Jesus heals the wounded
And the captive soul he frees.
Drink no more of earthly waters
Drawn from fountains made by men.
God supplies you living waters-
Drink, and never thirst again.
God's living Word is powerful
And sharper than a sword,
It strips us bare before the eyes
Of him who is our Lord.
Though man would make his Word to be
Of no effect, we learn
That, from his mouth it has gone out
And void shall not return.
He is the Lord above all things:
By him all things consist.
He has created all that is:
For him all things exist.
Proclaim that Christ was crucified
To meet our greatest need.
Yet, even more, proclaim the cross-
Jehovah's greatest deed.
Sow not the Word because mankind
Is worthy it be sown,
But sow the Word because our God
Is worthy to be known.
Then Christ will have preeminence
As we obey and go,
For all of God resides in him-
The Father wished it so.
Sacrifice. But wouldst thou have it
From a heart as vile as mine?
O my God, in lovingkindness
Take this heart and make it thine.
I acknowledge my transgressions
Done, O God, within thy sight.
Lord, I need thee, don't forsake me.
Love me, Father, make things right.
Spirit free and everlasting,
With thy joy my being flood;
Ravish thou my soul's desire,
Drown me in thy saving blood.
Open, Lord, my lips in singing;
Let my mouth show forth thy praise.
Then shall sinners be converted
And transgressors learn thy ways.
Cleanse thou me with hyssop's purgings;
Wash me whiter than the snow.
Grant me this, my deepest passion:
Known of God, my God to know.
When I am broken and in need
Of one to make me whole,
I turn me to the Shepherd and
The Bishop of my soul.
Whose stripes are made my healing balm;
Whose cross, my means of grace;
Whose crown of thorns, the token that
He stands there in my place.
His arms, though opened wide, are not
Held back, I see, by nails;
But by a fervent love for me
Of God, which never fails.
For that, through faith, which keeps me his-
The power of God to save-
I clearly see when I behold
Him risen from the grave.
And by his life I know my trial
Of faith will soon be done:
I cannot suffer more than he
Whose trials my life has won.
So I resolve that when my faith
In Christ be sorely tried,
He will, though others curse his name,
By me be glorified.
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord
And bow myself before his holy throne?
To give to him that which he does not own
I cannot, nor could I such things afford.
Yet, could he ask that I should take a sword
And slay my son for sins that I have sown?
Oh no! for just such love for me was shown
When his Son's blood o'er all my sins was poured.
When Jesus in my stead on Calvary stood,
He gave, that I might dwell with him above,
The righteousness in which I now am shod.
And he has shown to me that which is good:
Do justly, and at all times mercy love,
And humbly walk with him who is my God.
Wherewith shall I come before the Lord
And bow myself before his holy throne?
For there is nothing that I can afford
To give to him, which now he does not own.
And so he can't be pleased with any price
Of payment from the things that I have won;
Nor could he ask that I would sacrifice
To him, for all my sins, my firstborn son.
For price as this God did aforetime give
When in my place, for sins, his Son there stood
And I, in his, received the right to live.
For he has shown to me that which is good-
That I should justice do and mercy love
And humbly walk below with God above.
Think not of me for that which I could be,
Consider, rather, what I am today:
Of no substantial use in any way;
A parasitic burden. If I be
No more than here I have described myself,
A noble thing would then be my demise.
But I am more, for deep within me lies
A soul alike to that within yourself.
And this makes me a person just as much
As anyone established here in might.
Not only of the strong that walk the Earth,
But also of the weak or sick- the touch
Of God himself is on that life. The right
To live comes not from usefulness, but worth.
Come to Jesus, you that labor
Heavy laden with your care.
Cast your worries all upon him.
Trust that you can leave them there.
He has called you to a labor;
Take his yoke and of him learn.
He is meek in heart, and lowly;
Heed his call and let it burn-
Burn in you a holy passion
To proclaim the Christ to men.
Jesus' truth will surely free them
From the bondage of their sin.
Free them then to take his burden
That they too might win the lost,
Knowing God works out salvation:
He alone has paid the cost.
How beautiful the feet of him
That saith unto Zion, "Thy God
Reigneth! His salvation now is thine."
For he bringeth them good tidings
Of great joy- there is a Savior
Who is one of them, and yet he is divine.
Who is one of them, and yet he is divine.
To the gate that is called Beautiful
A man was carried daily, who was
Lame from all the time he was a boy;
But his feet received their power
When he heard the name of Jesus
And he leaping up did stand and walk with joy.
And he leaping up did stand and walk with joy.
Is there any sick among you? let him
Ask the church to pray for him,
Anointing him with oil in Jesus' name.
And the prayer of faith shall save him;
And he'll stand before his Maker,
Having all his sins forgiven, freed from blame.
Having all his sins forgiven, freed from blame.
Behold, how good, how pleasant 'tis
When brothers dwell together in a
Unity explained by nought but love-
It is like the precious ointment
On the head of God's anointed;
As the dew, which is a blessing from above.
As the dew, which is a blessing from above.
There was once a lovely woman,
One who poured a precious ointment
On the feet of Christ, then wiped them with her hair.
And the Lord of lords was honored
For the sacrifice was costly
And her knolwedge of her Lord both pure and rare.
And her knolwedge of her Lord both pure and rare.
The name of Jesus spoken is as
Ointment when poured forth, which fills,
With sweet and pleasant fragrance, all the room.
For he is the rose of Sharon;
He is altogether lovely,
And is always, evermore in perfect bloom.
And is always, evermore in perfect bloom.
Thy words were discovered and these did I eat;
Their flavor, as honey, was rich, pure, and sweet.
The rejoicing and joy of my heart they became
For, by them, I , through faith, am now called by thy name.
They told of the holy, omnipotent one,
The great triune God: Spirit, Father, and Son;
Whose eyes have a pureness that scarce can be told
So he who sees all cannot evil behold.
But then I read on and found hidden within
A man who was filthy and covered in sin.
Offended, I put them away on a shelf-
For he whom they told of was clearly myself.
Despite this, God to me his Spirit did give-
The Father, ere time, had decreed I should live.
And having this life, only then could I cry,
"My Jesus, please cleanse me or surely I die!"
And when I consider my sins are no more,
I find that my being is drawn to adore
The Lord for the matchless forgiveness he's wrought.
Unspeakable mystery- omniscience forgot.
That we are called the sons of God,
Behold, what love to tell!
He saves his people from their sins-
God's gift, Emmanuel.
God with us since that holy birth
The virgin womb conceived.
Forever he indwells those who
Have on that Child believed.
For unto us a Child is born,
Hosanna that he came!
The Prince of Peace, the everlasting
Father is his name;
The mighty God, our Counsellor
Who guides us by his light;
Both Wonderful he shall be called
And be within our sight.
Our God is our inheritance,
Possession, and our part.
No greater gift is there than he
Who comes to own our heart.
For God so loved the world he gave
To us his only Son,
Who gave his life that we into
His arms would freely run.
So also ought we now to love
Our brother that we give
Ourselves- so he might come to Christ
And through his life then live.
"I am thy salvation!" Jesus,
Always say this to my soul.
Nought but that which thou hast done could
Ever do to make me whole.
I would try to merit goodness
But beneath thy holy gaze
All I am is turned to ashes:
Christ alone receiveth praise.
Yesterday, today, forever-
Jesus Christ, thou art the same;
Thou, in me, createst praises:
Giving thanks unto thy name.
Now the God of peace that brought thee,
Our Lord Jesus, from the dead
Cause that I by that Great Shepherd
Of the sheep be ever led.
So that, though I be as nothing,
Christ my God, compared to thee,
I can will and do thy service
By thy pleasure wrought through me.
And when my soul far down is cast
Into the depths of all my fears;
When I am forced from God to fast
But, day and night, my meat is tears;
When circumstance shows no way out
Of places that the world has led;
When all things seem to start and shout,
"Give up, give up-your God is dead!"
Then I will seek his countenance,
Who is my help in everything.
By faith, I'll praise the excellence
Of him who is my Lord and King.
And after him I'll ever thirst,
For he alone can make me whole.
In everything, I'll put him first-
The cross of Christ has saved my soul.
I will not ask the praise of man
Nor act that he may then applaud.
I'll strive to do whate'er I can
That I may see the face of God.
What people, Lord, is like your church?
Whom God chose to redeem
By taking on himself the flesh
Of men of low esteem.
That they may be of one belief
He gave to them his name
To magnify the things he did
And herald why he came.
And now, O Lord, you are our God
And all your words are true-
They purge our minds to be like Christ's
And all his will then do.
For you've confirmed us to your Son
To be for him a bride,
That we may dwell as one with him
In pureness at his side.
Therefore, Lord, be pleased and bless
This house, which you have made,
That on the truth that Christ is God
It ever may be stayed.
We have a strong city whose walls are salvation,
Whose strength is Jehovah; the Lamb is the Light
In which walk the nations of all of the saved ones.
The gates of it shut not, for there is no night.
Three gates on the eastside, and three on the northside,
Three gates on the southside, and three on the west;
Yes, all those who wish to may enter that city
By casting their burdens on him who is rest.
But there shall in no wise be that which defiles it
To enter that city and bring it to shame.
For God has reserved them a place in that city,
Who trust him forever, believing his name.
We know he is faithful to do as he promised;
By faith, we believe in those things we have heard.
We live in that city possessing foundations
Whose builder and maker is none but the Word.
I would not be relieved of pains
And so, perchance, forget my Lord.
Cut not these ties with brandished sword,
For I rejoice in all my chains-
They bind to Christ.
Request for me in earnest prayer
An inward and an outward strength
To act in truth and so, at length,
Be counted worthy as God's heir-
In Jesus' sight.
I am God's wheat; may I be ground
By martyrdom to bread most pure.
Herein is now my freedom sure:
I am with Christ in union found-
A sacrifice.
I only ask that you do not
Petition God for my release.
And do not set me at my ease,
Nor offer me a sweeter lot-
I want to die.
My place is not this earthen sod.
I'm sick for home; I cannot wait.
Permit me, then, to imitate
The passion of my Christ, my God-
My source of life.
My love is crucified and dead,
Nor burn within the hungry fires
Of time-slaved needs. My one desire's
To have my fill of heaven's bread-
And blood for wine.
Reject me not, I would not live
According to the way of men.
So slay my body, slay my sin,
But save my soul that I may give-
All praise to Christ.
Written after reading his Epistle to the Romans
When divers testings come your way,
Know this- the Lord is there.
A faithful God who won't allow
You more than you can bear.
He offers you a place to hide,
A rock wherewhich to flee.
Put down your idols, turn to Christ
Convinced that rock is he.
Don't think you stand, for when you do,
In time you'll surely fall.
Instead, beg God to guard your strengths,
Your weaknesses, and all.
Take heart and know the Father's love
Won't count the times you sin;
But, when you fall, his mighty arms
Will pick you up again.
For once for all the price was paid
For sin when Jesus died,
And God another can't demand
When once he's satisfied.
You have a priest who, without sin,
Was tempted as are you.
He knows what you're enduring and
The trials you're going through.
In all these things God's molding you
And he will not be done
Until he has conformed you to
The image of his Son.
To all of you that sing make this your song,
No matter what your service or your place-
Rejoice and joy in God when things go wrong
And rest upon his all sufficient grace.
In all things, nothing doubting, ever pray-
Especially when you think that he won't hear;
And you will find, if God seems far away,
In truth, at such a time he's not more near.
Again I say to praise him even when
Some things be in your life not as they should.
When righteousness and peace seem quenched in sin,
Be sure and thank him always. God is good.
For when it seems that all about is night,
Remember, God will, God will make things right.
I looked at the world and the things that I saw
Were more than the theories of man could explain-
For soon it did seem that but chance guided all
And earthly endeavors were, therefore, in vain.
So then I considered this idol of chance,
How that I might better its service to me.
And not having learned from the things I'd observed,
I saw not that chance, which was naught, could not see.
Who am I? I wondered, and why am I here?
This was, as it were, to the wind. No one heard.
Despairing an answer, I chose to give up,
Cast down at the thought that I'd merely occurred.
And being convinced of how worthless I was,
I reckoned myself as completely undone.
Then God, in his mercy, considered my case
And chose to reveal him to me in his Son.
I looked at the cross and the love that I saw
Was more than the theories of man could explain-
For there God incarnate took all of my sin
That I, by his life, might his righteousness gain.
So then I considered this man Jesus Christ
How that I might serve him- my Lord and my King.
For when God has given his Son in my stead
I cannot refrain then his glory to sing.
Of what he has written, I grow into faith;
Of reading his Word, I will not be denied.
For through it the man who I am now has life
And he who I was I believe to have died.
Who am I? I know now. One chosen of God.
Yet, why this should be, I cannot understand.
So when I consider this, all I can say
Is thank you, God, thank you.
Behold the child, the given Son.
The shepherds came and saw
Within a manger, clothed for death,
A baby in the straw.
Behold the boy who stayed behind
When of his parents sought
And stood among the priests and scribes
Who listened as he taught.
Behold the man, alone who lived
A holy, sinless life
And, when the devil tempted him,
With scripture won the strife.
Behold the Lamb who shed his blood
Upon a wooden cross
Lest sinners to the flames of Hell
Their souls should suffer loss.
Behold, behold your risen Lord
For Death has lost its sting.
Proclaim it in the mountain tops
And to the cities sing,
"Behold your God!"
Know his matchless worth.
Look unto him and be ye saved
All ends of all the Earth.
Speak the beauty that is Jesus
To a broken hearted soul.
Tell him of the Great Physician
Who has died to make him whole.
Say that he will find enjoyment
In the God who is his friend
When the glory of his Maker
Is his chief and highest end.
Tell that he who heeds the sparrow
Keeps a count of all his hairs.
Even in the smallest matters
Tell him, "Listen, Jesus cares."
Christ, the lily of the valleys,
Tends the lilies of the field.
Clothed in glory for a season,
Soon to him their lives they yield.
When he feels that all is hopeless,
Tell him news to set him free-
Conquering death our Lord has risen:
Jesus lives and so shall he.
The Lord declares that Christ himself will build
A house, His holy name to magnify.
The blessings promised David are fulfilled
In raising him who for this house did die.
The Spirit has, when Christ 'nearth's womb was staid,
Created from his death him first in birth.
Rejoice! This is the day the Lord has made:
His Christ now rules the kingdom of this earth.
As God has said to him, "You are my Son;
I have become your Father on this day,"
So saying, he has crowned him as the one
Who evermore remains though worlds decay.
Hosanna, save us Lord that we may bring
The blessing due your Christ- our Priest and King.
Magnify the Lord Jehovah,
Joy, my spirit, in your God.
He, your low estate regarded:
Render ceaseless praise and laud.
He was born to work within me
Life by his ignoble death;
Greater thing than when creating
Breathed he in man life’s first breath.
Fear the Lord. His name is Holy-
He alone has strength to live.
In remembrance of his mercy,
He is willing to forgive.
I will kneel in prayer before him,
All my sins to him confess.
He will, being just and faithful,
Cleanse me from unrighteousness.
Jesus Christ is God Almighty.
Other name shall never be
That can seize my soul’s affection
While it sets my spirit free.
Object of our praise,
Sovereign of our wills;
Father, all our hearts in worship,
All Thy being fills.
Died and risen Lamb,
Jesus, God the Son;
Once for all Thy perfect priesthood
Thine elect has won.
Spirit of the Lord,
Holy, gentle breath;
By Thy power we are living,
Who had walked in death.
Not for our own worth,
Thou hast changed our ways;
Lord, by that Thou workest in us,
Now accept our praise.
This is the pledge to all those whose transgressions his blood has forgiven,
“Peace, peace to him that is distant and also to him that is near.”
Gently he comforts my heart from its troubles and keeps it from fear;
Not as the peace of the world is the peace unto me he has given.
“There is no peace,” says my God, “to the wicked: His labors shall crumble.”
Terrible holiness stripping away all that pride had concealed.
He who repents in contrition and mourns for his sins shall be healed;
Comforts restored by the high and the lofty One unto the humble.
From the profane finds my soul a repose in the One who does love me;
Now before death, he protects me from that which would cause me to fall.
“Come unto me, I am meek and am lowly in heart,” is the call
Jesus has spoken in majesty far and unequaled above me.
There is a temple in which sits the Lord on a throne and before him
Seraphim, one to another, cry, “Holy!” in threefold refrain.
Loveliness vaster than thought, be it ever so deep, may contain;
Glorious beauty inciting his people in awe to adore him.