196

MY

The Lord is my light.

"Y God, now I from sleep awake, The sole possession of me take; From midnight terrors me secure,

And guard my heart from thoughts impure.

Blessed angels! while we silent lie,
You alleluias sing on high,

You joyful hymn the Ever-blest
Before the throne, and never rest.

I with yon choir celestial join,
In offering up a hymn divine;
With you in heaven I hope to dwell,
And bid the night and world farewell.

My soul, when I shake off this dust,
Lord, in Thy arms I will entrust;
O make me Thy peculiar care,
Some mansion for my soul prepare.

Give me a place at Thy saints' feet,
Or some fallen angel's vacant seat:
I'll strive to sing as loud as they
Who sit above in brighter day.

O may I always ready stand,
With my lamp burning in my hand!
May I, in sight of heaven rejoice,

Whene'er I hear the Bridegroom's voice!

L.M.

All praise to Thee in light arrayed,
Who light Thy dwelling-place hast made,
A boundless ocean of bright beams
From Thy all-glorious Godhead streams.

Shine on me, Lord, new life impart,
Fresh ardours kindle in my heart;
One ray of Thy all-quickening light
Dispels the sloth and clouds of night.

Lord, lest the tempter me surprise,
Watch over Thine own sacrifice;
All loose, all idle thoughts cast out,
And make my very dreams devout.

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host,
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

197 I will keep thee in all places, whither

thou goest.

TEARER, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee;

E'en though it be a cross

That raiseth me,

Still all my song shall be,

Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee!

P.M.

Though like a wanderer,
The sun gone down,
Darkness comes over me,
My rest a stone;

Yet in my dreams I'd be
Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

Then let my way appear
Steps into heaven,

All that Thou sendest me
In mercy given,

Angels to beckon me

Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee.

Then, with my waking thoughts.

Bright with Thy praise, Out of my stony griefs

Bethels I'll raise;

So by my woes to be

Nearer, my God, to Thee,
Nearer to Thee.

And when on joyful wing
Cleaving the sky,

Sun, moon, and stars forgot,

Upwards I fly,

Still all my song shall be,
Nearer, my God, to Thee,

Nearer to Thee.

198 We love Him, because He first loved us.

GOD, I love Thee; not that I
May reign with Thee eternally,

Nor that I may escape the lot

Of those, O God, who love Thee not.

Thou, Thou, my Jesu, Thou for me

Didst agonize on Calvary,

Didst bear the cross, the nails, the lance,
The rabble's ignominious glance,

Unnumbered griefs, unmeasured woes,
Faintings, and agonizing throes,
And death itself; and all for me,
A sinner, and Thine enemy.

And shall not then Thy love cause me,
Most loving Jesus, to love Thee?
Not that in heaven I may reign,
Nor in the hope of any gain;

But as Thou, Jesus, didst love me,
So do I love, and will love Thee,
Because Thou art my King, my Lord,
Because, my Jesus, Thou art God.

L.M.

199 The God which has led me all my life long

unto this day.

HOW kindly hast Thou led me,
Heavenly Father, day by day!

Found my dwelling, clothed and fed me,
Furnished friends to cheer my way!
Didst Thou bless me, didst Thou chasten,
With Thy smile, or with Thy rod?
'Twas that still my step might hasten
Homeward, heavenward, to my God.

O how slowly have I often

8-7.

Followed where Thy hand would draw!
How Thy kindness failed to soften!
How Thy chastening failed to awe!
Make me for Thy rest more ready
As Thy path is longer trod;
Keep me in Thy friendship steady,

Till Thou call me home, my God!