Text:Longing for the house of God

156. Longing for the house of God

1 Lord of the worlds above,
How pleasant and how fair
The dwellings of thy love,
Thy earthly temples are;
To thine abode
My heart aspires
With warm desires
To see my God.

2 The sparrow for her young
With pleasure seeks a nest,
And wandering swallows long
To find their wonted rest;
My spirit faints
With equal zeal
To rise and dwell
Among thy saints.

3 O happy souls that pray,
Where God appoints to hear;
O happy men that pay
Their constant service there!
They praise thee still;
And happy they
That love the way
To Zion's hill.

4 They go from strength to strength
Thro' this dark vale of tears,
'Till each arrives at length,
'Till each in heaven appears:
O glorious seat
When God our King
Shall thither bring
Our willing feet!

Pause.

5 To spend one sacred day
Where God and saints abide,
Affords diviner joy
Than thousand days beside:
Where God resorts,
I love it more
To keep the door,
Than shine in courts.

6 God is our sun and shield,
Our light and our defence;
With gifts his hands are fill'd,
We draw our blessings thence;
He shall bestow
On Jacob's race
Peculiar grace
And glory too.

7 The Lord his people loves;
His hand no good with-holds
From those his heart approves,
From pure and pious souls:
Thrice happy he,
O God of hosts,
Whose spirit trusts
Alone in thee.

Text Information
First Line: Lord of the worlds above
Title: Longing for the house of God
Meter: As the 148th Psalm
Language: English
Publication Date: 1786
Scripture:
Topic: Church: God's presence there; Delight: and safety in the church; Delight: in God (6 more...)
Tune Information
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