Sacred Poems And Hymns

By James Montgomery

HYMN XCVII. Preparation for Public Worship.

8.8.8.8

James Montgomery

Preparation for Public Worship.

How shall we come before the Lord?

And how approach to the Most High?

Met in His house with one accord,

At His commandment we draw nigh.

Not hecatombs he now requires,

The daily blood of slaughterd beasts;

Quench'd are the ancient altar fires,

Extinct the line of typic priests.

Man's only Mediator stands

Before the Father's throne to plead

His sole atonement: in his hands

Our cause is safe; it must succeed.

The broken heart in sacrifice,

The contrite spirit let us bring,

For Thou, O God! wilt not despise

Thine own appointed offering.