1This stone to thee in faith we lay,--

Thine eye be open night and day,

2Here, when thy people seek thy face,

Hear thou, in heaven thy dwelling-place,

3Here, when thy messengers proclaim

Still by the power of his great name

4When children's voices raise the song,

Let heaven with earth the strain prolong;

5Thy glory never hence depart;

Thy kingdom come to every heart;

1The perfect world by Adam trod,

Was the first temple,--built by God;

His fiat laid the corner-stone,

And heaved its pillars, one by one.

2He hung its starry roof on high,--

The broad, illimitable sky;

He spread its pavement, green and bright

And curtained it with morning light.

3The mountains in their places stood,--

The sea, the sky,--and "all was good;"

And when its first pure praises rang,

The "morning stars together sang."

4Lord! 'tis not ours to make the sea,

And earth and sky a house for thee;

But in thy sight our offering stands,

A humbler temple, "made with hands."

1O, bow thine ear, Eternal One!

To thee the followers of thy Son

2Here let thy holy days be kept;

Like that bright spot where Jacob slept,

3Here may thine honor dwell; and here,

From contrite hearts and lips sincere,

4Here be thy praise devoutly sung;

As when, of old, thy spirit hung,

5And when the lips, that with thy name

On others may devotion's flame

1Father, lo! we consecrate

Oh! may Jesus visit here,

Here may blind eyes see his light,

And we, like those groups of old,

2And to learn of faith and love,

May we come and find them here,

Like the spices that enfold

May our thoughts embalm him here,

3When we watch by shrouded hopes,

May the angels meet us here--

And while we stand "looking up,"

Here send down thy Spirit's power,

1Who shall a temple build for him,

Who shall exalt his glorious name,

2Yet many a lowly fane shall rise,

He will accept the sacrifice;

3No gorgeous dome, nor boastful vow,

The humble votary, meek and low,--

4On these his grace and mercy rest,

His temple is the righteous breast;

And let our prayers and praise arise,

Like grateful incense to the skies.

Here let thy word its beams display

And safely guide to endless day.

And streams of peace and plenty flow,

To all who seek thy joy to know.

And youth and age their offerings raise.

In songs of ardent, cheerful praise.

1On this fair spot where nature pays

In morning beams, in evening rays,

2Thy children meet to dedicate

Our hearts and songs to elevate,--

3Descend--and with thy spirit bless

Sacred to truth and righteousness,

4Here let the standard of thy word

Hither bring hearts with one accord,

5And when we leave these courts below,

May others here rejoice to know

1O Thou, whose own vast temple stands,

Accept the walls that human hands

2Lord, from thine inmost glory send,

The peace that dwelleth, without end,

3May erring minds that worship here

And they who mourn, and they who fear,

4May faith grow firm, and love grow warm,

While round these hallowed walls the storm

1Where shall we go to seek and find

A dwelling for th' Eternal Mind

2The God of Jacob chose the hill

And Zion is his dwelling still;

3Here will he meet the hungry poor,

Here sinners, waiting at his door,

4"Here will I fix my gracious throne,

"Here shall my power and love be known,

Beneath this roof, O deign to show

How God can dwell with men below.

Here may thy word melodious sound,

And spread celestial joys around.

Here, Lord, display thy saving power,

While temples stand and men adore.

Till all, who humbly seek thy face,

Rejoice in thy abounding grace.

1Our Father God! not face to face

Nor lift the curtains of that place

Yet whereso'er our spirits bend

Thy promised blessing will descend,

2Lord! be the spot where now we meet,

Here may we sit at Jesus' feet,

Here may desponding care look up;

Or learn, of him, to drink the cup,

3Here may the sick and wandering soul,

Find better than Bethesda's pool,

And may we learn, while here apart

That thy true shrine's a loving heart,

1O Thou, who art above all height!

Beneath thy throne of love and light,

2We kneel in praise, that here is set

We kneel in prayer, that thou wouldst wet

3Since thy young servant now hath given

To the great cause of truth and heaven,

4Here may his doctrines drop like rain,

Till green fields smile, and golden grain,

5And when he sinks in death,--by care,

O God! remember then our prayer,

1Blest is the hour when cares depart,

When tears of woe forget to start,

And gently dawns upon the heart

2Blest is the place where angels bend

Where kindred thoughts their musings blend,

And all the soul's affections tend

3Blest are the hallowed vows that bind

Bind him to cheer the humble mind,

Console the weeping, lead the blind,

4Sweet shall the song of glory swell,

When they whose work is finished well,

In thy own courts of rest shall dwell,

1O Thou, who on thy chosen Son

To mark the long expected one,

2And when the heralds of his name

Didst send it down in tongues of flame

3So, Lord, thy servant now inspire

Give him the tongue of living fire,

4Lord, hear thy suppliant church to-day;

'Tis ours to labor, watch, and pray;

1O Thou, who didst ordain the Word,

We draw the holy veil of prayer,

To this young warrior of the cross,

Be thou a teacher and a guide,

2A pure disciple, let him tread

Giving the weary spirits rest,

Stooping to lend the sufferer aid,

To bind the widow's broken heart,

3For war with error, make him strong,

But let him humbly seek for truth,

And when, O Father, at the grave

Give him the victor's glistening robe,

1We bid thee welcome in the name

Come as a servant; so he came;

2Come as an angel, hence to guide

That, safely walking at thy side,

3Come as a teacher sent from God,

Lift o'er our ranks the prophet's rod,

4Come as a messenger of peace,

Live to behold our large increase,

1Herald of the Lord's salvation,

Heed the heavenly proclamation,

Mark old error's gathering forces

Know in truth thine own resources,

2Christ proclaim in the new station,

That the waiting congregation

Christ proclaim--no line abating

From no promise deviating;

3Then, God's blessing resting o'er thee,

Cloud and pillar bright before thee,

Till thy work well done, the greeting

Till we rise to that one meeting--

1Lift aloud the voice of praise!

Hear the prayer and song we raise,

2Lo! another servant brought

May he teach as Christ hath taught,

3To the vineyard may he come

Skilled to draw thy children home,

4Unto thee, a people bend,--

Flock and pastor, we would tend