2 From the fair chambers of the east, The circuit of his race begins, And, without weariness or rest,
Round the whole earth he flies and shines
3 0, like the sun may I fulfil
The appointed duties of the day,
With ready mind and active will
March on and keep my heavenly way.
Lord, thy commands are clean and pure,
Enlightening our beclouded eyes,
Thy threatenings just, thy promise sure,
Thy gospel makes the simple wise.
LORD of my life! O may thy praise
Employ my noblest powers,
Whose goodness lengthens out my days,
And fills the circling hours!
2 Preserved by thy almighty arm,
I passed the shades of night,
Serene and safe from every harm,
And see returning light.
3 While many spend the night in sighs
And restless pains and woes,
In gentle sleep I close my eyes
Ånd undisturbed repose.
4 When sleep death's semblance o'er me spread,
And I unconscious lay,
Thy watchful care was round
To guard my feeble clay.
5 0 let the same almighty care
My waking hours attend;
From every danger, every snare,
My heedless steps defend.
Morning or Evening Hymn
1 MY GOD, how endless is thy love!
Thy gifts are every evening new;
And morning mercies, from above,
Gently distil 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 my powers to thy command;
To thee I consecrate my days;
Perpetual blessings from thine hand
Demand perpetual songs of praise.
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Confidence in God's Protection.
1 FATHER, breathe an evening blessing
Ere repose our spirits seal;
Sin and want we come confessing;
Thou canst save and thou canst heal
2 Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrows past us fly,
Angel guards from thee surround us;
We are safe, if thou art nigh.
3 Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from thee;
Thou art he who, never weary,
Watchest where thy people be.
4 Should swift death this night o'ertake us,
And command us to the tomb,
May the morn in heaven awake us,
Clad in bright, eternal bloom.
Morning or Evening. — All from God. 1 FATHER! thy paternal care
Has my guardian been, my guide!
Every hallowed wish and prayer
Has thy hand of love supplied;
Thine is every thought of bliss,
Left by hours and days gone by
Every hope thy offspring is,
Beaming from futurity.
2 Every sun of splendid ray,
Every moon that shines serene;
Every morn that welcomes day;
Every evening's twilight scene,
Every hour which wisdom brings;
Every incense at thy shrine;
These - and all life's holiest things,
And its fairest-all are thine.
3 And for all, my hymns shall rise
Daily to thy gracious throne:
Thither let my asking eyes
Turn unwearied - righteous One!
Through life's strange vicissitude
There reposing all my care,
Trusting still through ill and good,
Fixed and cheered and counselled there.
Reflections at Sunset.
1 THE mellow eve is gliding
Serenely down the west;
So, every care subsiding,
My soul would sink to rest.
2 The woodland hum is ringing
The daylight's gentle close;
May angels round me singing,
Thus hymn my last repose.
3 The evening star has lighted
Her crystal lamp on high;
So, when in death benighted,
May hope illume the sky.
4 In golden splendor dawning,
The morrow's light shall break;
O, on the last bright morning
May I in glory wake.
1 THUS far the Lord has 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,
He 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 Faith in his name forbids my fear: O, may thy presence ne'er depart! And in the morning make me hear
Thy love and kindness in my heart.
5 And when the night of death shall come
Still may I trust almighty love,-
The love which triumphs o'er the tomb,
And leads to perfect bliss above.
Trusting God. Evening Hymn.
1 GLORY to thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light:
Keep me, O, keep me, King of kings,
Beneath the shadow of thy wings.
2 Forgive me, Lord, through thy dear Son
The ills which I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3 0, may my soul on thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close.
Sleep that shall me more vigorous make
To serve my God when I awake.
4 Be thou my Guardian while I sleep
Thy watchful station near me keep;
My heart with love celestial fill,
And guard me from th' approach of ill.
5 Lord, let my heart forever share
The bliss of thy paternal care :
"T is heaven on earth, 't is heaven above,
To see thy face and sing thy love.
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