1 "Thus shalt thou love the Almighty Lord, -
With all thy heart and soul and mind."
So speaks to man that sacred Word,
For counsel and reproof designed.
2 "With all thy heart"; no idol thing,
Though close around the heart it twine,
Its interposing shade must fling,
To darken that pure love of thine.
3 "With all thy mind"; each varied power,
Creative fancy, musings high,
And thoughts that glance behind, before,
These must religion sanctify.
4 "With soul and strength"; thy days of ease,
While vigour nerves each youthful limb,
And hope and joy, and health and peace,
All must be freely brought to Him.
5 Thou Power supreme, in whom we move!
Vouchsafe Thy servants, in their day,
The mind to adore, the heart to love,
And strength to serve Thee, while they may.
1 Our heavenly Father calls,
And Christ invites us near;
With both, our friendship shall be sweet,
And our communion dear.
God pities all my griefs;
He pardons every day;
Almighty to protect my soul,
And wise to guide my way.
Jesus, the truth, the life!
The way through earthly care,
Inspirer of the hope of heaven,
And my forerunner there!
Here fix, my roving heart,
Here wait, my warmest love,
Till the communion be complete
In nobler scenes above.
1 The weary traveller, lost in night,
Breathes many a longing sigh;
And marks the welcome dawn of light
With rapture in his eye:
2 Thus the sweet dawn of heavenly day
Lost weary sinners find;
When mercy with reviving ray
Beams o'er the fainting mind.
3 To slaves oppressed with cruel chains
How kind, how dear the friend,
Whose generous hand relieves their pains, And bids their sorrows end!
4 Thus kind, thus dear, that friend divine,
Who rescues captive souls,
Unbinds the galling chains of sin,
And all its power controls.
5 My God, to Thy revealed light
My dawn of hope I owe;
Once wandering in the shades of night,
And sunk in hopeless woe:
6 'T was Thy blest hand redeemed the slave,
And set the prisoner free:
Be all I am, and all I have,
Devoted, Lord, to Thee!
1 Supreme and universal Light!
Fountain of reason, Judge of right!
Parent of good! whose blessings flow
On all above, and all below:
2 Without whose kind directing ray,
In everlasting night we stray;
From passion still to passion tost,
And in a maze of error lost :
3 Assist me, Lord, to act, to be
What nature and Thy laws decree;
Worthy that intellectual flame
Which from Thy breathing spirit came.
4 May my expanded soul disclaim
The narrow view, the selfish aim;
But with a Christian zeal embrace
Whate'er is friendly to my race.
5 O Father, grace and virtue grant;
No more I wish, no more I want:
To know, to serve Thee, and to love,
Is peace below, is bliss above.
1 Thy Law is perfect, Lord of light,
Thy testimonies sure;
The statutes of Thy realm are right,
And Thy commandment pure.
2 Holy, inviolate, Thy fear,
Enduring as Thy throne;
Thy judgments, chastening or severe,
Justice and truth alone.
3 Let these, O God! my soul convert,
And make Thy servant wise;
Let these be gladness to my heart,
The day-spring to mine eyes!
4 By these may I be warned betimes:
Who knows the guile within?
Lord! save me from presumptuous crimes,
Cleanse me from secret sin!
5 So may the words my lips express,
The thoughts that throng my mind,
O Lord, my strength and righteousness,
With Thee acceptance find!
1 Still, for thy loving kindness, Lord!
Here in Thy courts we wait:
We look to find Thee in Thy word,
Or in Thy laws to meet.
2 O God! in Thine appointed ways,
We wait to learn Thy will:
Silent we stand before Thy face,
And hear Thee say, "Be still!"
3 We wait, our vigour to renew,—
Thine image to retrieve,
The veil of outward things pass through,-
As seeing Thee, to live.
4 To do the things Thy laws enjoin,
Then, Lord, the strife give o'er;
Into Thy hands the rest resign,-
Than this, we ask no more.
Say not the Law divine
Is hidden from thee, or afar removed;
That law within would shine,
If there its glorious light were sought and loved.
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