Hymns for Christian Devotion Part 154

4 Back from the borders of the grave, At thy command, I come; Nor will I ask a speedier flight To my celestial home.

5 Where thou appointest mine abode There would I choose to be; For in thy presence death is life, And earth is heaven with thee.

933. C. M. H. K. White.

A Family Evening Prayer.

1 O Lord, another day is flown, And we, a lonely band, Are met once more before thy throne, To bless thy fostering hand.

2 And wilt thou lend a listening ear To praises low as ours!

Thou wilt; for thou dost love to hear The song which meekness pours.

3 O, let thy grace perform its part, And let contention cease; And shed abroad in every heart Thine everlasting peace.

4 Thus chastened, cleansed, entirely thine, A flock by Jesus led, The Sun of holiness shall s.h.i.+ne In glory on our head.

5 And thou wilt turn our wandering feet, And thou wilt bless our way, Till worlds shall fade, and faith shall greet The dawn of lasting day.

934. L. M. S. S. Cutting.

Family Hymn. Evening.

1 Father, we bless the gentle care That watches o'er us day by day, That guards us from the tempter's snare, And guides us in the heavenward way:-- We bless thee for the tender love, That mingles all our hearts in one,-- The music of the soul;--above 'Tis purer spirits' unison.

2 Father, 'tis evening's solemn hour, And cast we now our cares on thee; Darkly the storm may round us lower,-- Peace is within,--Christ makes us free,-- And when life's toil and joy are o'er, And evening gathers on its sky, Our circle broke,--we sing no more,-- O, may we meet and sing on high.

MORNING AND EVENING HYMNS.

935. L. M. Keble.

Morning Hymn.

1 Oh! timely happy, timely wise.

Hearts that with rising morn arise!

Eyes that the beam celestial view, Which evermore makes all things new!

2 New every morning is the love Our wakening and uprising prove; Through sleep and darkness safely brought, Restored to life, and power, and thought.

3 New mercies, each returning day, Hover around us while we pray; New perils past, new sins forgiven, New thoughts of G.o.d, new hopes of heaven.

4 If, on our daily course, our mind Be set to hallow all we find, New treasures still, of countless price, G.o.d will provide for sacrifice.

5 Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be, As more of heaven in each we see; Some softening gleams of love and prayer, Shall dawn on every cross and care.

936. L. M. Bishop Kenn.

Morning Resolutions.

1 Awake, my soul! and with the sun Thy daily stage of duty run; Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise To pay thy morning sacrifice.

2 Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart, And with the angels bear thy part, Who all night long unwearied sing High praises to th' eternal King.

3 In conversation be sincere; Keep conscience, as the noontide, clear; Think how the all-seeing G.o.d thy ways And all thy secret thoughts surveys.

4 Lord, I my vows to thee renew; Scatter my sins like morning dew; Guard my first springs of thought and will And with thyself my spirit fill.

5 Direct, control, suggest, this day, All I design, or do, or say, That all my powers, with all their might, In thy sole glory may unite.

937. C. M. Montgomery.

Acknowledging G.o.d's Hand. Morning.

1 What secret hand, at morning light, Softly unseals mine eye, Draws back the curtain of the night, And opens earth and sky;

2 'Tis thine, my G.o.d,--the same that kept My resting hours from harm; No ill came nigh me, for I slept Beneath th' Almighty's arm.

3 'Tis thine, my daily bread that brings, Like manna scattered round, And clothes me, as the lily springs In beauty from the ground.

4 In death's dark valley though I stray 'Twould there my steps attend, Guide with the staff my lonely way, And with the rod defend.

5 May that sure hand uphold me still Through life's uncertain race, To bring me to thy holy hill, And to thy dwelling-place.

938. 7s. M. Episcopal Coll.