On Opening a Place for Social Prayer
Olney Hymns, William Cowper, from Cowper's Poems, Sheldon & Company, New York
Jesus! where'er Thy people meet, For Thou, within no walls confined Dear Shepherd of Thy chosen few! Here may we prove the power of prayer, Behold, at Thy commanding word Lord, we are few, but Thou are near:There they behold Thy mercy seat;
Where'er they seek Thee, Thou are found,
And every place is hallow'd ground.
Inhabitest the humble mind;
Such ever bring Thee where they come,
And going, take Thee to their home.
Thy former mercies here renew;
Here to our waiting hearts proclaim
The sweetness of Thy saving name.
To strengthen faith, and sweeten care;
To teach our faint desires to rise,
And bring all Heaven before our eyes.
We stretch the curtain and the cord,
Come Thou, and fill this wider space,
And bless us with a large increase.
Nor short Thine arm, nor deaf Thine ear;
Oh rend the heavens, come quickly down,
