RE the morning's busy ray
Call you to your work away;

Ere the silent evening close

Your wearied eyes in sweet repose,

To lift your heart and voice in prayer

Be your first and latest care.

He to whom the prayer is due,

From heaven His throne shall smile on you;

Angels sent by him shall tend

Your daily labour to befriend,

And their nightly vigils keep

To guard you in the hour of sleep.

When through the peaceful parish swells

The music of the Sabbath bells,

Duly tread the sacred road

Which leads you to the house of God;
The blessing of the Lamb is there,
And "God is in the midst of her.

And oh! where'er your days be past;
And oh! howe'er your lot be cast,
Still think on Him whose eye surveys,
Whose hand is over all your ways.
Abroad, at home, in weal, or woe,
That service, which to heaven you owe,
That bounden service duly pay;

And God shall be your strength alway.

He only to the heart can give
Peace and true pleasure while you live;
He only, when you yield your breath,
Can guide you through the vale of death.

He can, he will, from out the dust
Raise the blest spirits of the just;
Heal every wound, hush every fear;
From every eye wipe every tear;
And place them where distress is o'er,
And pleasures dwell for evermore.

CRABBE.

EVENING PRAYER.

HE sun has gone to rest,

The bee forsakes the flower,

The young bird slumbers in the nest,

Within the leafy bower.

Morning Hymn.

Where have I been this day?

Into what folly run?

Forgive me, Father, when I pray,
Through Jesus Christ thy Son.

When all my days are o'er,
And in the grave I lie,

Wilt thou permit my soul to soar

To worlds beyond the sky!

369

L. H. SIGOURNEY.

MORNING HYMN.

WAKE, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;

Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise

To pay thy morning sacrifice.

Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praises to the Eternal King.

Glory to thee, who safe hast kept,

And hast refreshed me while I slept :

Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake,

I may of endless life partake.

Lord, I to thee my vows renew;

Dispel my sins as morning dew;

Guard my first springs of thought and will,

And with thyself my spirit fill.

Direct, control, suggest, this day,

All I design, or do, or say,

That all my powers, with true delight,

To thy sole glory may unite.

BISHOP KENN.

EVENING HYMN.

EFORE I close my eyes to-night,
Let me myself these questions ask :
Have I endeavoured to do right,

Nor thought my duty was a task?

Have I been gentle, lowly, meek,

And the small voice of conscience heard?

When passion tempted me to speak,

Have I repressed the angry word?

Have I with cheerful zeal obeyed

What

my kind parents bid me do, And not by word or action said

The thing that was not strictly true?

In hard temptation's troubled hour,
Then have I stopped to think and pray,
That God would give my soul the power
To chase the sinful thought away?

O Thou who seest all my heart,

Wilt thou forgive and love me still? Wilt thou to me new strength impart, And make me love to do thy will?

MRS. FOLLEN.

Child's Hymn.

371

CHILD'S HYMN.

AMB of God, I look to thee;
Thou shalt my example be;

Thou art gentle, meek, and mild;

Thou wast once a little child.

Loving Jesu, gentle Lamb,

In thy gracious hands I am;
Make me, Saviour, what thou art!

Live thyself within my heart!