My God, how endless is thy love!
Thy gifts are every evening new ;
And morning mercies from above,
Gently descend like early dew.
2 Thou spread'st the curtains of the night,
Great Guardian of my sleeping hours;
Thy sovereign word restores the light,
And quickens all my drowsy powers.
3 I yield myself to thy command;
To thee devote my nights and days;
Perpetual blessings from thy hand,
Demand perpetual songs of praise.
505 Benevento-p. 222.] 7th P. M. 8 lines 7s.
MNIPRESENT God! whose aid
No one ever ask'd in vain,
Be this night about my bed,
Every evil thought restrain :
Lay thy hand upon my soul,
God of my unguarded hours!
All my enemies control,
Hell, and earth, and nature's powers. /
20 thou jealous God! come down,
God of spotless purity;
Claim and seize me for thine own,
Consecrate my heart to thee:
Under thy protection take;
Songs in the night season give;
Let me sleep to thee, and wake;
Let me die to thee, and live.
3 Let me of thy life partake,
Thy own holiness impart ;
O that I may sweetly wake,
With my Saviour in my heart!
O that I may know thee mine!
O that I may thee receive!
Only live the life divine!
Only to thy glory live!
506 Carver-p. 32.]
A Unfold thy drowsy eyes,
WAKE, my soul, to meet the day,
And burst the pond'rous chain that loads
Thine active faculties.
2 God's guardian shield was round me spread
In my defenceless sleep:
Let him have all my waking hours
Who doth my slumbers keep.
3 Pardon, O God, my former sloth,
And arm my soul with grace;
As rising now, I seal my vows
To prosecute thy ways.
4 Bright Sun of righteousness, arise;
Thy radiant beams display,
And guide my dark, bewilder'd soul,
To everlasting day.
Clarence-p. 32.] C. M.
Let warmest thanks arise;
Assist us, Lord, to offer up
Our evening sacrifice.
2 This day God was our sun and shield,
Our keeper and our guide;
His care was on our weakness shown,
His mercies multiplied.
3 Minutes and mercies multiplied,
Have made up all this day;
Minutes came quick, but mercies were
More swift and free than they.
4 New time, new favours, and new joys,
Do a new song require:
Till we shall praise thee as we would,
Accept our heart's desire.
508 Morning Hymn-p.159.] 1st P.M. 6 lines 8s. FATHER, to thee I lift mine eyes,
My longing eyes, and restless heart;
Before the morning watch I rise,
And wait to taste how good thou art;
T'obtain the grace I humbly claim,
The saving power of Jesus' name.
2 This slumber from my soul, O shake!
Warn'd by thy Spirit's inward call,
Let me to righteousness awake,
And pray that I no more may fall;
Or give to sin or Satan place,
But walk in all thy righteous ways.
3 O would'st thou, Lord, thy servant guard,
'Gainst every known or secret foe;
A mind for all assaults prepared,
A sober, vigilant mind bestow,
Ever apprized of danger nigh,
And when to fight, and when to fly :
4 O never suffer me to sleep
Secure within the verge of hell,
But still my watchful spirit keep
In lowly awe and loving zeal;
And bless me with a godly fear,
And plant that guardian angel here!
5 Attended by that sacred dread,
And wise from evil to depart,
Let me from strength to strength proceed,
And rise to purity of heart:
Through all the paths of duty move,
From humble faith to perfect love.
HUS far the Lord hath led me on,
Thus far his power prolongs my days; And every evening shall make known Some fresh memorial of his grace.
2 Much of my time has run to waste, And I, perhaps, am near my home: But he forgives my follies past,
And gives me strength for days to come.
3 I lay my body down to sleep,
Peace is the pillow for my head;
While well-appointed angels keep
Their watchful stations round my bed.
4 Thus when the night of death shall come,
My flesh shall rest beneath the ground,
And wait thy voice to rouse my tomb,
With sweet salvation in the sound.
GOD, my God, my all thou art! Ere shines the dawn of rising day, Thy sovereign light within my heart, Thy all-enlivening power, display. 2 For thee my thirsty soul doth pant, While in this desert land I live; And hungry as I am, and faint, Thy love alone can comfort give. 3 In a dry land, behold I place My whole desire on thee, O Lord,
And more I joy to gain thy grace,
Than all earth's treasures can afford.
4 More dear than life itself, thy love
My heart and tongue shall still employ ;
And to declare thy praise will prove
My peace, my glory, and my joy.
5 In blessing thee with grateful songs,
My happy life shall glide away;
The praise that to thy name belongs,
Hourly with lifted hands I'll pay.
6 Abundant sweetness while I sing
Thy love, my ravish'd heart o'erflows;
Secure in thee, my God and King,
Of glory that no period knows.
7 Thy name, O God, upon my bed,
Dwells on my lips, and fires my thought:
With trembling awe, in midnight shade,
I muse on all thy hands have wrought.
8 In all I do I feel thine aid;
Therefore thy greatness will I sing, O God, who bidd'st my heart be glad, Beneath the shadow of thy wing!
9 My soul draws nigh and cleaves to thee: Then let or earth or hell assail,
Thy mighty hand shall set me free;
For whom thou sav'st, he ne'er shall fail.
PARENTS AND MASTERS.
511 Craven-p. 36.]
GOD, only wise, almighty, good,
To point us out the narrow road,
And guide our steps aright.
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