2 Thine arms of everlasting love
Did this weak frame sustain,
When life was hovering o'er the grave
And nature sunk with pain.
3 I calmly bowed my fainting head
On thy dear, faithful breast,
And waited for my Father's call
To his eternal rest.
4 Back from the borders of the grave,
At thy command, I come;
Nor will I ask a speedier flight
Το 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.
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.
30, 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 shine
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.
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, 't is 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.
1 Он! 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 brough
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 God, 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,
God 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.
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 God 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 wil
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.
Acknowledging God'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 God, 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
'T would 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.
1 Now, the shades of night are gone;
Now the morning light comes on ;
Lord, may we be thine to-day,
Drive the shades of sin away.
2 Fill our souls with heavenly light,
Banish doubt, and clear our sight;
In thy service, Lord, to-day,
May we stand, and watch and pray.
3 Keep our haughty passions bound:
Save us from our foes around;
Going out and coming in,
Keep us safe from every sin.
4 When our work of life is past,
O, receive us then at last ;
Night and sin will be no more,
When we reach the heavenly shore.
1 GOD of the morning, at whose voice
The cheerful sun makes haste to rise,
And like a giant doth rejoice.
To run his journey through the skies.
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