Anticipating the Heavenly Sabbath

Verse 1

Lord of the Sabbath, hear us pray, in this your house, on this your day; and own, as grateful sacrifice, the songs which from your temple rise.

Verse 2

Now met to pray and bless your name, whose mercies flow each day the same, whose kind compassions never cease, we seek instruction, pardon, peace.

Verse 3

Your earthly Sabbaths, Lord, we love, but there's a nobler rest above; to that our lab'ring souls aspire with ardent hope and strong desire.

Verse 4

In your blest kingdom we shall be from ev'ry mortal trouble free: no sighs shall mingle with the songs resounding from immortal tongues.

Verse 5

No rude alarms of raging foes, no cares to break the long repose, no midnight shade, no waning moon, but sacred, high, eternal noon.

Verse 6

O long-expected day, begin, dawn on these realms of woe and sin! Break, morn of God, upon our eyes; and let the world's true Sun arise!