“The Lord is at hand.”

1. Pause, my soul! and ask the question,
Art thou ready to meet God?
Am I made a real Christian,
Washed in the Redeemer’s blood?
Have I union
To the church’s living Head?

2. Am I quickened by his Spirit;
Live a life of faith and prayer?
Trusting wholly to his merit;
Casting on him all my care?
Daily panting,
In his likeness to appear?

3. If my hope on Christ is stayèd,
Let him come when he thinks best;
O my soul! be not dismayèd,
Lean upon his loving breast;
He will cheer thee
With the smilings of his face.

4. But, if still a total stranger
To his precious name and blood,
Thou art on the brink of danger;
Canst thou face a holy God?
Think and tremble,
Death is now upon the road.

W. GADSBY

How pleased and blest was I

1. HOW pleased and blest was I
To hear the people cry,
‘Come, let us seek our God today!’
Yes, with a cheerful zeal
We haste to Zion’s hill,
And there our vows and homage 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. There David’s greater Son
Has fixed His royal throne,
He sits for grace and judgement there:
He bids the saints be glad,
He makes the sinner sad,
And humble souls rejoice with fear.

4. May peace attend thy gate,
And joy within thee wait,
To bless the soul of every guest:
The man that seeks thy peace,
And wishes thine increase,
A thousand blessings on him rest.

5. My tongue repeats her vows,
‘Peace to this sacred house!’
For there my friends and kindred dwell;
And, since my glorious God
Makes thee His blest abode,
My soul shall ever love thee well.

Isaac Watts, 1674-1748

“MAN of Sorrows!’ what a name”

1. MAN of Sorrows!’ what a name
For the Son of God, Who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

2. Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood,
Sealed my pardon with His blood:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

3. Guilty, vile, and helpless, we:
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
‘Full atonement!’—can it be?
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

4. ‘Lifted up’ was He to die,
‘It is finished!’ was His cry;
Now in Heaven exalted high:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

5. When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! what a Saviour!

Philip Bliss, 1838-76