624

Habitual devotion.

C. M.

WHILE thee I seek, protecting Power,
Be my vain wishes still'd;

And may this consecrated hour
With better hopes be fill'd.

2 Thy love the power of thought bestow'd
To thee my thoughts would soar:
Thy mercy o'er my life has flow'd;
That mercy I adore.

3 In each event of life, how clear
Thy ruling hand I see;

Each blessing to my son most dear,
Because conferr'd by thee.

4 In every joy that crowns my days,
In every pain I bear,

My heart shall find delight in praise,
Or seek relief in prayer.

5 When gladness wings my favour'd hour,
Thy love my thoughts shall 611;
Resign'd, when storms of sorrow lower,
My soul shall meet thy will.

6 My lifted eye, without a tear,

The gath'ring storm shall see:

My steadfast heart shall know no fear;
That heart will rest on thee.

.625

Infinite indebtedness.

L. M.

REAT God, let all our tuneful powers

Thy hand revolves the circling hours-
Thy hand, from whence our being came,
2 Seasons and moons, still rolling round
In beauteons order, speak thy praise;
And years, with smiling mercy crown'd,
To thee successive honours raise.

8 Our life, and health, and friends, we owe
All to thy vast, unbounded love;
Ten thousand precious gifts below,
And hope of nobler joys above.

4 Thus may we sing till nature cease,-
Till sense and language are no more;
And, after death, thy boundless grace
Through everlasting years adore.

626

I

4th P. M. 886, 886.

For the head of a family.

AND my house will serve the Lord:
But first, obedient to his word

I must myself appear;

By actions, words, and tempers, show
That I my heavenly Master know,
And serve with heart sincere.

2 I must the fair example set;
From these that on my pleasure wait
The stumbling-block remove;
Their duty by my life explain,
And still in all my works maintain
The dignity of love.

8 Easy to be entreated, mild,
Quickly appeased and reconciled,
A foll'wer of my God:
A saint indeed I long to be,
And lead my faithful family
In the celestial road.

4 Lord, if thou didst the wish infuse,
A vessel fitted for thy use

Into thy hands receive:

Work in me both to will and do;
And show them how believers true,
And real Christians, live.

627

Household consecration.

S. M.

THE power to bless my house,
Belongs to God alone;

Yet rend'ring him my constant vows,
He sends his blessings down.

2 Shall I not then engage

My house to serve the Lord,-
To search the soul-converting page,
And feed upon his word :-

8 To ask, with faith and hope,
The grace which he supplies,
In prayer and praise to offer up
Their daily sacrifice!

4 Let each his sin eschew,

Through thy restraining grace; Our father Abrah'm's steps pursue, And walk in all thy ways.

5 Saviour of men, incline

The hearts which thou hast made,Which thou hast bought with blood divme, To ask thy promised aid.

6 Me and my house receive,

Thy family to increase;

And let us in thy favour live,
And let us die in peace.

628

L. M.

Commencing the labours of the day.

FORTH in thy name, O Lord, I go,
My daily labours to pursue;
Thee, only thee, resolved to know,
In all I think, or speak, or do.
2 Thee will I set at my right hand,
Whose eyes mine inmost substance see;

And labour on at thy command,

And offer all my works to thee.

3 Give me to bear thy easy yoke,
And every moment watch and pray;
And still to things eternal look,

And hasten to thy glorious day:-

4 For thee delightfully employ

Whate'er thy bounteous grace has given; And run my course with even joy, And closely walk with thee to heaven.

629

1st P. M. 6 lines 8

For a blessing on the children.
YAPTAIN of our salvation, take
The souls we here present to thee,
And fit for thy great service make
These heirs of immortality:
And let them in thine image rise,
And then transplant to paradise.

2 Unspotted from the world, and pure,
Preserve them for thy glorious cause,
Accustom'd daily to endure

The welcome burden of thy cross;
Inured to toil and patient pain,
Till all thy perfect mind they gain.

Our sons henceforth be wholly thine, And serve and love thee all their days; Infuse the principle divine

In all who here expect thy grace; Let each improve the grace bestow'd; Rise every child a man of God.

4 Train up thy hardy soldiers, Lord, In all their Captain's steps to tread; Or send them to proclaim thy word,

Thy gospel through the world to spread; Freely as they receive to give,

And preach the death by which we live!

630

EXCE

L. M.

No success without God's blessing.
XCEPT the Lord our labours bless,
In vain shall we desire success;
Except his guardian power restrain,
The watchman waketh but in vain.
2 'Tis useless toil our stores to keep,-
Early to rise and late to sleep,-
Unless the Lord, who reigns on high,
His providential care supply.

3 Grant, Lord, that we may ever flee
For guidance and for help to thee;
Thy blessing ask, whate'er we do,
And in thy strength our work pursue.

631

C. M.

On returning from a journey. THOU, Lord, hast blest my going out, O bless my coming in.

Compass my weakness round about,
And keep me safe from sin.

2 Still hide me in thy secret place
Thy tabernacle spread

Shelter me with preserving grace,
And screen my naked head.
3 To thee for refuge may I run,
From sin's alluring snare:
Ready its first approach to shun,
And watching unto prayer.

4 O that I never, never more
Might from thy ways depart:
Here let me give my wand'rings o'er,
By giving thee my heart.

5 Fix my new heart on things above,
And then from earth release;

I ask not life, but let me love,
And lay me down in peace.