The primal marriage blessing, 2 Still in the pure espousal Of Christian man and maid, 3 For dower of blessèd children, may 4 Be present, awful Father, 5 Be present, gracious Saviour, break. 6 Be present, Holiest Spirit, 7 O spread Thy pure wings o'er them, 8 To cast their crowns before Thee, Till to the home of gladness With Christ's own Bride they rise. J. KEBLE. 1857. 1252 1 7.6. He that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God. LOVE Divine and golden, The blesser and the blest! The world lies down in rest. 2 O Love Divine and tender, That through our homes doth move, Thy blessedness are blest. 3 God bless these hands united! God bless these hearts made one! May they through life go on; Its joy where "God is Love." J. S. B. MONSELL. 1875. MORNING AND EVENING. S. M. 1253 I will rise to give thanks to Thee. 1 A Ps. 119. 62. NOTHER day begun! 2 3 4 5 Before the setting of the sun, To Thee we yield our powers; For watchful is our foe; And sin is strong, and death is near, Another day of hope! For Thou art with us still; And Thine Almighty strength can cope Another day of grace To help us on our way ! One step towards the resting-place The eternal Sabbath-day. J. ELLERTON. 1870. C.M. 1254 The things which are not seen are eternal. 1 THE 2 Cor. 4. 18. HE roseate hues of early dawn, The crimson of the sunset sky, O for the Sun of Righteousness, 2 The highest hopes we cherish here, O for a heart that never sins, 3 Here faith is ours, and heavenly hope O by Thy love and anguish, Lord; MRS. C. F. ALEXANDER. 1853. 8.8.8.4. 1255 He that keepeth thee, will not slumber. Ps. 121. 3. 1 THE radiant morn hath passed away, And spent too soon her golden store; The shadows of departing day 2 Our life is but a fading dawn; 3 O by Thy soul-inspiring grace, 4 Where light and life and joy and peace And thronging angels never cease 5 Where saints are clothed in, spotless white G. THRING. 1866. 12.11.12.11. 1256 The offering of the evening sacrifice. 1 How 1 Kings 18. 36. OW calmly the evening once more is descending, As kind as a promise, as still as a prayer; O wing of the Lord, in Thy shelter befriending, May we and our household continue to share! 2 The sky, like the Kingdom of heaven, is open; O enter, my soul, at the glorious gates; The silence and smile of His love are the token, Who now for all comers invitingly waits. 3 We come to be soothed with His merciful healing, [the day; The dews of the night cure the wounds of We come, our life's worth and its brevity feeling, [pray. With thanks for the past; for the future we 4 Lord, save us from folly; be with us in sorrow; Sustain us in work till the time of our rest; When earth's day is over, may heaven's to[possest. Dawn on us, with homes, long expected, T. T. LYNCH. 1856. morrow 6.4.6.6. 1257 At evening time it shall be light. Zech. 14. 7. 1 HE sun is sinking fast, |