William Cowper (1731–1800)

Jesus, where’er thy people meet,

There they behold thy mercy-seat;

Where’er they seek thee thou art found,

And ev’ry place is hallow’d ground.

For thou, within no walls confin’d,

Inhabitest the humble mind;

Such ever bring theem 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 pow’r of pray’r,

To strengthen faith, and sweeten care;

To teach our faint desires to rise,

And bring all heav’n before our eyes.

Behold! at thy commanding word,

We stretch the curtain and the cord;

Come thou, and fill this wider space,

And bless us with a large encrease.

Lord, we are few, but thou art near;

Nor short thine arm, nor deaf thine ear;

Oh rend the heav’ns, come quickly down,

And make a thousand hearts thine own!