570
S. M.
Invitation to prayer.
Come to the house of prayer,
O thou afflicted, come;
The God of peace shall meet thee there;
He makes that house his home.
2 Come to the house of praise,
Ye who are happy now;
In sweet accord your voices raise,
In kindred homage bow.
3 Ye agéd, hither come,
For you have felt his love;
Soon shall your trembling tongues be dumb,
Your lips forget to move.
4 Ye young, before his throne
Come, bow; your voices raise;
Let not your hearts his praise disown
Who gives the power to praise.
5 Thou, whose benignant eye
In mercy looks on all—
Who seest the tear of misery,
And hearest the mourner’s call—
6 Up to thy dwelling-place
Bear our frail spirits on,
Till they outstrip time’s tardy pace,
And heaven on earth be won.
E. Taylor.