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The primal marriage blessing,
It hath not passed away.

2 Still in the pure espousal

Of Christian man and maid,
The Holy Three are with us,
The threefold grace is said;

3 For dower of blessèd children,
For love and faith's sweet sake,
For high mysterious union
Which naught on earth

may

4 Be present, awful Father,
To give away this bride,
As Eve Thou gav'st to Adam
Out of his own pierced side.

5 Be present, gracious Saviour,
To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal bands.

break.

6 Be present, Holiest Spirit,
To bless them as they kneel,
As Thou for Christ the Bridegroom
The heavenly Spouse dost seal.

7 O spread Thy pure wings o'er them,
Let no ill power find place,
When onward to Thy footstool
Their daily path they trace,

8 To cast their crowns before Thee,
In perfect sacrifice;

Till to the home of gladness

With Christ's own Bride they rise.

J. KEBLE. 1857.

1252

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7.6.

He that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God.
1 John 4. 16.

LOVE Divine and golden,
Mysterious depth and height!
To Thee the world beholden
Looks up for life and light;
O Love Divine and gentle,

The blesser and the blest!
Beneath Thy care parental

The world lies down in rest.

2 O Love Divine and tender,

That through our homes doth move,
Veiled in the softened splendour
Of holy household love.
A throne without Thy blessing
Were labour without rest,
And cottages possessing

Thy blessedness are blest.

3 God bless these hands united!

God bless these hearts made one!
Unsevered and unblighted

May they through life go on;
Here in earth's home preparing
For the bright home above,
And there for ever sharing

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!
Lord, grant us grace that we,

2

3

4

5

Before the setting of the sun,
Redeem the time for Thee.
Another day of toil!

To Thee we yield our powers;
And let not sin our conscience soil
Through all the passing hours.
Another day of fear!

For watchful is our foe;

And sin is strong, and death is near,
And short our time below.

Another day of hope!

For Thou art with us still;

And Thine Almighty strength can cope
With all who seek our ill.

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 brightness of the day,

The crimson of the sunset sky,
How fast they fade away;
O for the pearly gates of heaven,
O for the golden floor;

O for the Sun of Righteousness,
That setteth nevermore!

2 The highest hopes we cherish here,
How fast they tire and faint!
How many a spot defiles the robe
That wraps an earthly saint!

O for a heart that never sins,
O for a soul washed white!
O for a voice to praise our King,
Nor weary, day or night!

3 Here faith is ours, and heavenly hope
And grace to lead us higher;
But there are perfectness and peace
Beyond our best desire.

O by Thy love and anguish, Lord;
O by Thy life laid down;
O that we fall not from Thy grace,
Nor cast away our crown!

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
Creep on once more.

2 Our life is but a fading dawn;
Its glorious noon how quickly past!
Lead us, O Christ! when all is gone,
Safe home at last.

3 O by Thy soul-inspiring grace,
Uplift our hearts to realms on high,
Help us to look to that bright place
Beyond the sky;

4 Where light and life and joy and peace
In undivided empire reign,

And thronging angels never cease
Their deathless strain.

5 Where saints are clothed in, spotless white
And evening shadows never fall;
Where Thou, eternal Light of light,
Art Lord of all!

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,
The daylight dies;

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