HOUSE.
I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.—Psalm cxxii. 1.
Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.—Psalm cxxvii. 1.
It is better to go to the house of mourning, than to go to the house of feasting: for that is the end of all men; and the living will lay it to his heart.—Ecclesiastes, vii. 2.
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.—John, xiv. 1, 2.
It is the Sabbath bell, which calls to pray’r,
Ev’n to the house of God, the hallow’d dome,
Where He who claims it bids His people come
To bow before His throne, and serve him there
With pray’rs, and thanks, and praises: some there are
Who bold it meet to linger now at home,
And some o’er fields and the wide hills to roam,
And worship in the temple of the air!
For me, not heedless of the lone address,
Nor slack to greet my maker on the height,
By wood, or living stream; yet not the less
Seek I His presence in each social rite
Of His own temple: that He deigns to bless,
There still He dwells, and there is His delight.
Bishop Mant.
If in the family thou art the best,
Pray oft, and be the mouth unto the rest;
Whom God hath made the heads of families,
He hath made priests to offer sacrifice.
Daily let part of Holy Writ be read,
Let as the body, so the soul have bread;
For look, how many souls in thy house be,
With just as many souls God trusteth thee.
Anonymous. (1600.)
If to the house of God below
Thou go’st with faith and holy love;
Thy soul, released, may hope to go
And dwell in God’s own house above.
Egone.