Olney Hymns (1840)/Book 1/Hymn 96
96.
The House of Prayer.—Mark, xi, 17.C.
1 Thy mansion is the Christian's heart,
O Lord, thy dwelling-place secure!
Bid the unruly throng depart,
And leave the consecrated door.
O Lord, thy dwelling-place secure!
Bid the unruly throng depart,
And leave the consecrated door.
2 Devoted as it is to thee,
A thievish swarm frequents the place;
They steal away my joys from me,
And rob my Saviour of his praise.
A thievish swarm frequents the place;
They steal away my joys from me,
And rob my Saviour of his praise.
3 There too a sharp designing trade,
Sin, Satan, and the world maintain;
Nor cease to press me, and persuade,
To part with ease and purchase pain.
Sin, Satan, and the world maintain;
Nor cease to press me, and persuade,
To part with ease and purchase pain.
4 I know them, and I hate their din,
Am weary of the bustling crowd;
But while their voice is heard within
I cannot serve thee as I would.
Am weary of the bustling crowd;
But while their voice is heard within
I cannot serve thee as I would.
5 Oh! for the joy thy presence gives,—
What peace shall reign when thou art here!
Thy presence makes this den of thieves
A calm delightful house of prayer.
What peace shall reign when thou art here!
Thy presence makes this den of thieves
A calm delightful house of prayer.
6 And if thou make thy temple shine,
Yet, self-abased, will I adore;
The gold and silver are not mine,—
I give thee what was thine before.
Yet, self-abased, will I adore;
The gold and silver are not mine,—
I give thee what was thine before.