Approach Not the Altar

Approach not the al­tar with gloom in thy soul

Nor let thy feet fal­ter from ter­ror’s con­trol!

God loves not the sad­ness of fear and mis­trust;

Oh! serve Him with glad­ness

the Gen­tle

the Just!

His boun­ty is ten­der

His be­ing is love

His smile fills with splen­dor the blue arch above!

Confiding

be­liev­ing

oh! en­ter al­ways

His courts with thanks­giv­ing

His por­tals with praise!

Nor come to the tem­ple with pride in thy mien;

But low­ly and sim­ple in cour­age se­rene

Bring meek­ly be­fore Him the faith of a child

Bow down and ad­ore Him with heart un­de­filed!