Lord of the Sabbath, Hear Us Pray

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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!