On Opening A Place For Social Prayer.

Jesus! whereer thy people meet,     There they behold thy mercy seat;     Whereer thy seek thee, thou art found,     And every place is hallowd ground.     For thou, within no walls confined,     Inhabitest the humble mind;     Such ever bring thee where they come,     And going, take thee to their home.     Dear Shepherd of thy chosen few!     Thy former mercies here renew;     Here to our waiting hearts proclaim     The sweetness of thy saving name.     Here may we prove the power of prayer,     To strengthen faith and sweeten care;     To teach our faint desires to rise,     And bring all heaven before our eyes.     Behold, at thy commanding word     We stretch the curtain and the cord;[1]     Come thou and fill this wider space,     And bless us with a large increase.     Lord, we are few, but thou art near;     Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;     Oh rend the heavens, come quickly down,     And make a thousand hearts thine own!