336

L. M. HYMNS AND ANTHEMS.

Night.

1 O'ER silent field, and lonely lawn,
Her dusky mantle night hath drawn;
At twilight's holy, heartfelt hour,
In man his better soul hath power.

2 The passions are at peace within,
And still each stormy thought of sin
The yielding bosom overawed,

Breathes love to man and love to God.

337

8 & 7s. M.

R. ROBINSON.

God the Creator.

1 MIGHTY God! while angels bless thee,
May an infant lisp thy name!

Lord of men, as well as angels,
Thou art every creature's theme.

2 Lord of every land and nation,
Ancient of eternal days!

Sounded through the wide creation
Be thy just and lawful praise:

3 For the grandeur of thy nature
Grand beyond a seraph's thought;

For created works of power —

Works with skill and kindness wrought:

4 For thy providence that governs

Through thine empire's wide domain ;
Wings an angel, guides a sparrow,
Blessed be thy gentle reign.

338

339

1 GENTLY fall the dews of eve,

Raising still the languid flowers;
Sweetly flow the tears that grieve

O'er a mourner's stricken hours.

2 Blessed tears and dews that yet
Lift us nearer unto heaven!
Let us still His praise repeat,
Who in mercy all hath given.、

C. M.

Humility and Contentment.

1 HE that is down need fear no fall,
He that is low no pride;
He that is humble ever shall
Have God to be his guide.

2 Fulness to such, a burden is,
That go on pilgrimage;

Here little, and hereafter bliss,

Is best from age to age.

BUNYAN.

341

Day and Night.

1 SOURCE of light and life divine!
Thou didst cause the light to shine;
Thou didst bring thy sunbeams forth
O'er thy new-created earth.

2 Shade of night, and morning ray,
Took from thee the name of day:
Now again the shades are nigh
Listen to our mournful cry.

3 May we ne'er, by guilt depressed,
Lose the way to endless rest;
May no thoughts, corrupt and vain,
Draw our souls to earth again.

4 Rather lift them to the skies,
Where our much-loved treasure lies;

Help us in our daily strife,

Make us struggle into life.

C. M.

H. MARTINEAU.

All Men are Equal.

1 ALL men are equal in their birth,
Heirs of the earth and skies;

All men are equal when that earth
Fades from their dying eyes.

2 God meets the throngs who pay their vows
In courts their hands have made;
And hears the worshipper who bows
Beneath the plantain-shade.

3 'Tis man alone who difference sees,
And speaks of high and low,

And worships those, and tramples these,
While the same path they go.

4 O, let man hasten to restore
To all their rights of love;

In power and wealth exult no more;
In wisdom lowly move.

5 Ye great! renounce your earth-born pride;
Ye low! your shame and fear:

Live, as ye worship, side by side;
Your brotherhood revere.

342

7s. M.

MRS. BARBauld.

A Christian's Joy.

1 Joy there is, that, seated deep,

Leaves not when we sigh or weep;
Spreads itself in virtuous deeds,
Sighs for wo, in pity bleeds.

2 Stern and awful are its tones

When the patriot-martyr groans,
And the death-pulse beating high
Rapture blends with agony.

3 Tenderer is the form it wears,
Touched with love, dissolved in tears,
When the meek their Saviour greet,
Bending at the mercy-seat.

343

C. M.

PEABODY.

A Christian's Death.

1 BEHOLD the western evening light-
It melts in deeper gloom;

So calm the righteous sink away,

Descending to the tomb.

The winds breathe low,

the yellow leaf

Scarce whispers from the tree;
So gently flows the parting breath
When good men cease to be.

2 How beautiful, on all the hills,
The crimson light is shed!
"Tis like the peace the dying gives
To mourners round his bed.
How mildly on the wandering cloud
The sunset beam is cast!

So sweet the memory left behind,
When loved ones breathe their last.

3 And lo! above the dews of night
The vesper-star appears!

So faith lights up the mourner's heart,
Whose eyes are dim with tears.