Scripture Verse

The king and all the people dedicated the house of God. 2 Chronicles 7:5

Introduction

Words: Charles D. Bell, in the Ap­pen­dix to Dr. Wal­ker’s Chel­ten­ham Po­ems and Hymns, 1873.

Music: An­twerp Will­iam Small­wood (1831–1897) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Small­wood (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Charles D. Bell (1818–1898)

Lyrics

Be with us, gra­cious Lord, today;
This house we de­di­cate to Thee;
O hear Thy ser­vants as they pray,
And let Thine ear at­tent­ive be!

Within these walls let ho­ly peace,
Let love and truth be al­ways found;
May bur­dened hearts and sweet re­lease,
And souls with rich­est grace be crowned.

May here be heard the sup­pli­ant’s sigh,
The wea­ry en­ter into rest;
Here may the con­trite to Thee cry,
And wait­ing souls be rich­ly blessed.

Here when the Gos­pel sound is heard,
And here pro­claimed the sav­ing name,
May hearts be quick­ened, moved and stirred,
And souls be kin­dled into flame.

Here may the dead be made to live,
The dumb to sing, the deaf to hear;
And do Thou to the hum­ble give
Pardon and peace in­stead of fear.

Make this, O Lord, Thine own abode;
Thy pre­sence in these courts be giv’n;
Be this, in­deed, the house of God,
And this in truth the gate of Heav’n.