“I will praise the name of God with a song.”—Psalm 69:30
“It came to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth forever: that then the house was filled with a cloud:... for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God.”—2 Chronicles 5:13, 14.
“The hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him.”—John 4:23.
“Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ”—1 Peter 2:5.
“And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God.”—Revelation 19:1.
FATHER and God! to Thee
Our songs of praise ascend;
E’er long their eternal harmonies
The very skies shall rend;
But now ‘tis minor tones we raise,
Thy children lisping forth Thy praise.
Father! we worship Thee,
Our very souls we bow;
Earth is forgotten while we gaze
Within the holiest now;
And in the radiance of this place,
With rapture look upon Thy face.
All thought of sin is gone,
It cannot enter here
Redemption’s work is done,
It dissipates our fear.
Now in the worth of Christ we stand,
Offering the first-fruits of the land.
His blood has washed us white,
His beauty clothes us now;
And fit for Thine unsullied light
We stand before Thee now;
Blest in the liberty thus given,
To praise within an opened heaven.
Praise for the gift of Christ,
Thy well-beloved Son!
Praise for the Spirit who reveals
The Gift and Giver One!
All joy we have, or hope to see,
Is centered, blessed God, in Thee.
A. S. O.