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255
“THE PRISONER OF THE LORD.”
A SABBATH HYMN FOR A SICK CHAMBER.
Thousands, O Lord of Hosts! this day,
Around thine altar meet;
And tens of thousands throng to pay
Their homage at thy feet.
Around thine altar meet;
And tens of thousands throng to pay
Their homage at thy feet.
They see thy power and glory there,
As I have seen them too;
They read, they hear, they join in prayer,
As I was wont to do.
As I have seen them too;
They read, they hear, they join in prayer,
As I was wont to do.
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They sing Thy deeds, as I have sung,
In sweet and solemn lays;
Were I among them, my glad tongue
Might learn new themes of praise.
In sweet and solemn lays;
Were I among them, my glad tongue
Might learn new themes of praise.
For Thou art in their midst, to teach,
When on Thy name they call;
And Thou hast blessings, Lord, for each,
Hast blessings, Lord, for all.
When on Thy name they call;
And Thou hast blessings, Lord, for each,
Hast blessings, Lord, for all.
I, of such fellowship bereft,
In spirit turn to Thee;
Oh! hast Thou not a blessing left,
A blessing, Lord, for me?
In spirit turn to Thee;
Oh! hast Thou not a blessing left,
A blessing, Lord, for me?
The dew lies thick on all the ground,
Shall my poor fleece be dry?
The manna rains from heaven around,
Shall I of hunger die?
Shall my poor fleece be dry?
The manna rains from heaven around,
Shall I of hunger die?
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Behold thy prisoner;—loose my bands,
If 'tis thy gracious will;
If not,—contented in thine hands,
Behold thy prisoner still!
If 'tis thy gracious will;
If not,—contented in thine hands,
Behold thy prisoner still!
I may not to thy courts repair,
Yet here thou surely art;
Lord, consecrate a house of prayer
In my surrender'd heart.
Yet here thou surely art;
Lord, consecrate a house of prayer
In my surrender'd heart.
To faith reveal the things unseen,
To hope, the joys untold;
Let love, without a veil between,
Thy glory now behold.
To hope, the joys untold;
Let love, without a veil between,
Thy glory now behold.
Oh! make thy face on me to shine,
That doubt and fear may cease;
Lift up thy countenance benign
On me,—and give me peace.
That doubt and fear may cease;
Lift up thy countenance benign
On me,—and give me peace.
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