There’s a dear little church in the village,
Near the spot where I first saw the day;
Where in childhood I learned of the Savior,
As the Life, and the Truth, and the Way.

Refrain

O come to the church in the village,
O come while the bells sweetly chime,
O come from the hills and the valleys,
And list to the Gospel sublime;
O come to the church in the village,
O come while the bells sweetly chime,
O come to the church in the village,
Seek God, while still there is time.

There it stands, when the bright sun is shining,
Where the broad, spreading trees cast their shade,
Then at eve, when the sun has descended,
See it stand in the twilight arrayed.

Refrain

Then the light, shining thro’ stainèd windows
Sifting out, shimmers into the night,
Giving all that it touches new beauty,
And dispelling the darkness with light.

Refrain

Thus the darkness and blindness that bound me
Were removed in that dear, sacred place,
And no matter how far I may wander,
’Twill be dear till the end of my race.

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Come with happy faces,
To the place of prayer;
Jesus now is waiting;
We shall find Him there.

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With a grateful spirit,
Now our voices raise;
Thank Him for His goodness,
In a song of praise.

Come with happy faces;
Jesus rose today;
Leave the world behind us,
Seek the narrow way.

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Come with happy faces,
Come with hearts sincere;
God our thoughts is reading,
He is ever near.

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Come with happy faces,
Learn the words of truth;
Jesus loves the children;
Trust Him in our youth.

Refrain

How did my heart rejoice to hear
My friends devoutly say,
“In Zion let us all appear,
And keep the solemn day!”

I love her gates, I love the road;
The church, adorned with grace,
Stands like a palace built for God,
To show His milder face.

Up to her courts with joys unknown
The holy tribes repair;
The Son of David holds His throne,
And sits in judgment there.

He hears our praises and complaints;
And while His awful voice
Divides the sinners from the saints,
We tremble and rejoice.

Peace be within this sacred place,
And joy a constant guest!
With holy gifts and heav’nly grace
Be her attendants blest!

My soul shall pray for Zion still,
While life or breath remains;
There my best friends, my kindred dwell,
There God my Savior reigns.

How pleased and blest was I
To hear the people cry,
“Come, let us seek our God today!”
Yes, with a cheerful zeal
We haste to Zion’s hill,
And there our vows and honors pay.

Zion, thrice happy place,
Adorned with wondrous grace,
And walls of strength embrace thee round;
In thee our tribes appear
To pray, and praise, and hear
The sacred Gospel’s joyful sound.

There David’s greater Son
Has fixed His royal throne,
He sits for grace and judgment there:
He bids the saint be glad,
He makes the sinner sad,
And humble souls rejoice with fear.

May peace attend thy gate,
And joy within thee wait
To bless the soul of every guest!
The man that seeks thy peace,
And wishes thine increase,
A thousand blessings on him rest!

My tongue repeats her vows,
“Peace to this sacred house!”
For there my friends and kindred dwell;
And since my glorious God
Makes thee His blest abode,
My soul shall ever love thee well.

My heart was glad to hear the welcome sound,
The call to seek Jehovah’s house of prayer;
Our feet are standing here on holy ground,
Within thy gates, thou city grand and fair.

God’s people to Jerusalem repair
To hear his Word and worship Him with praise;
The throne of justice stands eternal there,
Messiah’s throne through endless length of days.

Let earnest prayer be made for Zion’s peace;
Thy sons who hold thee dear shall prosper well;
May blessing in thy palaces increase
And peace within thy walls forever dwell.

For all my brethren and companions’ sakes
My prayer shall be, Let peace in thee abide;
Since God the Lord in thee His dwelling makes,
To thee my love shall never be denied.

O ’twas a joyful sound to hear
Our tribes devoutly say,
Up, Israel! to the temple haste,
And keep your festal day.
At Salem’s courts we must appear,
With our assembled powers,
In strong and beauteous order ranged,
Like her united towers.

O ever pray for Salem’s peace;
For they shall prosperous be,
Thou holy city of our God,
Who bear true love to Thee.
May peace within Thy sacred walls
A constant guest be found;
With plenty and prosperity
Thy palaces be crowned.

For my dear brethren’s sake, and friends
No less than brethren dear,
I’ll pray: May peace in Salem’s towers
A constant guest appear.
But most of all I’ll seek thy good,
And ever wish thee well,
For Sion and the temple’s sake,
Where God vouchsafes to dwell.

To Thy temple I repair;
Lord, I love to worship there
When within the veil I meet
Christ before the mercy seat.

I through Him am reconciled,
I through Him become Thy child.
Abba, Father, give me grace
In Thy courts to seek Thy face.

While Thy glorious praise is sung,
Touch my lips, unloose my tongue,
That my joyful soul may bless
Christ the Lord, my Righteousness.

While the prayers of saints ascend,
God of Love, to mine attend.
Hear me, for Thy Spirit pleads;
Hear, for Jesus intercedes.

While I hearken to Thy law,
Fill my soul with humble awe
Till Thy Gospel bring to me
Life and immortality.

While Thy ministers proclaim
Peace and pardon in Thy Name,
Through their voice, by faith, may I
Hear Thee speaking from the sky.

From Thy house when I return,
May my heart within me burn,
And at evening let me say,
“I have walked with God today.”

With joy I heard my friends exclaim,
“Come, let us in God’s temple meet;
Within thy gates, O Zion blest,
Shall ever stand our willing feet.”

How beautiful doth Zion stand,
A city built compact and fair;
The people of the Lord unite
With joy and praise to worship there.

They come to learn the will of God,
To pay their vows, His grace to own;
For there is judgment’s royal seat,
Messiah’s sure and lasting throne.

For Zion’s peace let prayer be made;
May all that love thee prosper well;
Within thy walls let peace abide,
And gladness with thy children dwell.

For sake of friends and kindred dear,
My heart’s desire is Zion’s peace;
And for the house of God, the Lord,
My loving care shall never cease.