See, Pray, Go, Serve

1 Lord Jesus, who of old didst go
To cities, villages and towns,
And, teaching, preaching, healing show
Thy power and mercy all around:
Before us go, in every place
In fullness of Thy saving grace!

2 Good Shepherd, who of old didst see
The multitudes as scattered sheep,
And gathered, in compassion free,
Thy flock into Thy fold to keep:
Grant us like Thee the world to view --
"The harvest, plenteous --- labourers, few!"

3 O Lord of harvest, who of old
Didst bid Thine own disciples pray
For labourers, till with hearts made bold,
Themselves Thou send'st in their own day:
Teach us to pray, till we shall see
Our call, and answer, "Send Thou me!"

4 Into the harvest white now sent,
Grant us to labour willingly --
Spending, and in Thy service spent,
Till all flesh Thy salvation see:
Uplifted Saviour, hear our plea:
Now let all men be drawn to Thee!

-- JPB 9 August 2004 8.8.8.8.8.8.

Geat Grace Upon Us All

1 Lord, Thou art God alone!
All heaven and earth is Thine:
Behold us from Thy gracious throne
Thine ear to us incline!

2 In earnest, urgent prayer
We join to seek Thy face:
As we assemble, meet us there
In might, and shake the place!

3 Behold our threatening foes:
Restrain their wrathful ways,
Till all who now Thy reign oppose
Be made to sing Thy praise!

4 Stretch forth Thine hand to seal
The preaching of Thy Word:
In Jesus Christ Thy Son, reveal
The glory of the Lord!

5 Grant all our longing hearts
To feel the Holy Ghost
Till in the fulness He imparts
We boldly seek the lost.

6 O Father, in this hour,
In Jesu's Name we cal:
Send in Thy Holy Spirit's power
Great grace upon us all!

-- JPB 1 July 2006 S.M.

O Triune God! Assembled Now before Thee

1 O Triune God! assembled now before Thee,
Gathered in reverence at the throne of grace,
We heed Thy call for hearts that worship truly,
We seek Thee, who hast said, 'Seek ye My face!'

2 No temple made with human hands contains Thee:
Earth is Thy footstool, heaven of heavens Thy throne;
Yet to the contrite heart, at Thy Word trembling,
Hast Thou respect, and dost Thou look alone.

3 No graven image dare we make or offer:
Thou art a Spirit -- only by Thy Word,
As it is written, we draw nigh to serve Thee,
Our Shield, and our exceeding great Reward.

4 Praise right and meet, we bring in adoration,
Raising in psalms, in hymns and spiritual songs,
Honour and blessing, for Thy great salvation:
Worthy Thou art -- all praise to Thee belongs!

5 Prayer do we offer, fervent and effectual,
Led by Thy Spirit, in the Saviour's Name:
Pleading Thy promise, holy hands extending
That we should live before Thee without blame.

6 We hear Thy living voice -- the Holy Scriptures;
These make us wise to trust Thee and obey:
Strengthen and bless our Pastors, Elders, teachers,
That we may know by them what Thou dost say!

7 Keeping Thine ordinance, as the Saviour told us,
Baptized in water, have we made our vows;
And as disciples, let Thy grace uphold us,
To do and teach whate'er the Scripture shows.

8 Gathered around the Table we remember,
How Jesus died, to bring us back to God:
Here do we meet, of Bread and Cup partaking,
In pledge and sign, the Saviour's flesh and Blood.

9 Thee would we fear, and keep the Sabbath holy,
Meeting upon the first day of the week;
Resting from all our works, and in Thee solely,
Finding our hearts' delight, Thy ways to seek.

10 And every day, in labour and in leisure,
Our sweet communion with Thee would we keep:
Grant that Thy Word, and prayer may be our pleasure,
Alone, in family, when we wake and sleep.

11 Eternal FATHER, who in love hast sought us,
Eternal SON, who bought us with Thy Blood:
Eternal SPIRIT, who in mercy taught us
Worship in truth and spirit -- Thou art God!

-- JPB, 28 September 2002. 11.10.11.10.

Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour King

1 Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour King,
Thy praise our willing hearts would sing:
We bow the knee before Thy throne --
We glory in Thy Name alone!

2 Thou art the promised Woman's Seed,
Which hast our souls from bondage freed:
Who dying, crushed the serpent's head,
And rose victorious from the dead.

3 Our King of righteousness and peace,
Thy royal priesthood ne'er shall cease;
For through Thy veil of flesh, to God
Thou hast redeemed us by Thy Blood.

4 Thou art the Star of Jacob bright,
Which brings to all the nations light --
Sceptre of Judah, Shiloh, Sun
To whom the people gathering come.

5 Trembling we kiss thee, Son of God,
Who rules the earth with iron rod
To dash in shards of potter's clay
The wicked in Thy power's day.

6 Thou King of glory, Lord of hosts,
O save us to the uttermost:
Thou hast ascended up on high
Captive to lead captivity.

7 O Prince and Saviour, in Thy grace
Be Thou our Rock and Hiding place:
With judgment fill the wilderness,
The fruitful fields with righteousness.

8 Pour Thou the Spirit from on high
On us; in all our places dry
Rivers of water send, to bless
With righteous peace and quietness.

9 Light of the morning, shining clear,
Our King and God, our voice now hear:
Our worship deign with peace to bless
In beauty of Thy holiness.

10 Thy congregation's saints would sing
And Zion's children in their King
Be joyful; pleasure in us take,
And, Saviour, beautify the meek!

11 Lord Jesus, grant, at Thy right hand,
That we with all Thy Church may stand
Fairer than all the sons of men --
Thy Bride, all glorious within!

12 In us Thy holy beauty see --
Thou art our Lord; we worship Thee,
One with the Father evermore,
And Holy Ghost, by all adored!

-- JPB 20 October 2002. L.M.

We Greet the Day of Light

1 We greet the Day of Light,
When God our Maker stood,
The day dividing from the night,
And saw that it was good!

2 We take the Day of Rest
Jehovah sanctified:
One of the seven, which He blessed,
For man He did provide.

3 We hail the Day of Grace:
The Gospel Jubilee,
When Christ proclaims in every place
The truth that sets us free.

4 We see the Day of Power
On which the Spirit gains
A willing people in the hour
Our risen Saviour reigns.

5 We haste the Day of God
And seek the rest to come
For all the saints redeemed by Blood
In their eternal home.

6 Lord GOD, upon us shower
These blessings rich, we pray:
Grant us Thy light, rest, grace and power
On This, Thy holy Day!

7 In Thee alone we boast,
In Thee alone we rest,
The Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
One God, forever blest!

--- JPB, 8 March 2004 S.M.

In the Spirit on the Lord's Day

1 "In the Spirit on the Lord's Day"
Let us trace the steps once trod
By the aged, beloved disciple,
Exiled for the Word of God,
Till the Lamb enthroned we worship,
Who hath bought us with His Blood!

2 See an open door in Heaven:
Hear the Voice with trumpet sound
Beckon us to share the vision
Of the Throne, with all around,
Gathered in sublime submission
To our Saviour, glory crowned.

3 Now attend unnumbered voices,
Surging like the boundless sea,
Of the saints, in whom His choice is,
Loved, and washed, from sin set free:
How each ransomed heart rejoices
In His final victory!

4 "Thou art worthy!" hear them singing,
Praise outpouring like a flood,
"From all nations sinners bringing
Thou redeem'st us by Thy Blood!
Honour, riches, glory, blessing
Is Thy due, O Lamb of God!"

5 "O come quickly -- come, Lord Jesus!"
Every Sabbath let us pray!
May we thus in worship hasten
On until the Judgment Day
When shall come new earth and heavens,
Which shall never pass away!

6 Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
One, true, living God alone --
Grant us, on that Day assembling,
Grace to gather round Thy throne:
Make Thy Church Thy foursquare Temple,
Built on Christ the Cornerstone!

--- JPB 10 March 2004 8.7.8.7.4.7.

Turn Ye, Turn, Why Will Ye Die?

1 Turn ye, turn, why will ye die?
All who pass my Saviour by,
God's salvation comes today!
Will ye also go away?

2 Passing on in evil's path,
Now ye treasure up the wrath
Which the Righteous Judge shall send
On the wicked at the end!

3 Plainly doth the Scripture tell,
"All the nations go to hell,
Which forget the God of heaven"
Who His only Son hath given!

4 In this world Christ Jesus came,
Sinners lost to seek and claim:
Hanging on the cursed Tree,
By His Blood to set us free.

5 Dare ye trample on that Blood
Of the gracious Son of God --
Put Him to an open shame,
And despise His holy Name?

6 Sinner, vile, condemned and vain,
Doomed to Hell's unending pain,
Do not pass my Saviour by -
Turn ye, turn, why will ye die?

7 From the broad way now relent:
Turn to God, of sin repent!
In th'accepted time, receive
Jesus Christ the Lord, and live!

-- JPB, 1 November 2003. 7.7.7.7.