One ray of thy all-quickening light
Dispels the sloth and clouds of night.
10 Lord, lest the tempter me surprise,
Watch over thine own sacrifice;
All loose, all idle thoughts cast out,
And make my very dreams devout.
11 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.
THEE in the watches of the night
Do I not, Lord, remember still,
And meditate with calm delight
On the dear counsels of thy will?
Thy will is my perfection here;
And sighs for this my whole desire
To' attain thy heavenly character,
And spotless in thine arms expire.
I WHEN restless on my bed I lie,
Still courting sleep, which still will fly,
Then shall reflection's brighter power
Illume the lone and midnight hour.
2 If hush'd the breeze and calm the tide,
Soft will the stream of memory glide,
And all the past, a gentle train,
Waked by remembrance, live again.
3 Perhaps that anxious friend I trace,
Beloved till life's last throb shall cease,
Whose voice first taught a Saviour's worth,
A future bliss unknown on earth.
4 His faithful counsel, tender care,
Unwearied love, and humble prayer;
O these still claim the grateful tear, And all my drooping courage cheer! 5 If loud the wind, the tempest high, And darkness wraps the sullen sky, I muse on life's tempestuous sea, And sigh, O Lord, to come to Thee. 6 Toss'd on the deep and swelling wave, O mark my trembling soul and save; Give to my view that harbour near, Where Thou wilt chase each grief and fear!
Preparation for the Sabbath.
1 SAFELY through another week,
God hath brought us on our way;
Let us now a blessing seek
On the' approaching Sabbath-day;
Day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eternal rest.
2 Mercies, multiplied each hour,
Gracious Lord, our praise demand;
Guarded by thy mighty power,
Nourish'd by thy bounteous hand:
Now from worldly care set free,
May we rest this night with Thee.
3 When the morn shall bid us rise,
May we feel thy presence near;
May thy glory meet our eyes
When we in thy house appear;
And may all our Sabbaths prove
Foretastes of the joys above.
The Sabbath.-Morning.
WELCOME, Sweet day of rest,
That saw the Lord arise,
Welcome to this reviving breast
And these rejoicing eyes!
The King Himself comes near,
And feasts his saints to-day,
Here we may sit, and see Him here,
And love, and praise, and pray.
One day amidst the place,
Where my dear God hath been,
Is sweeter than ten thousand days
Of pleasurable sin.
My willing soul would stay
In such a frame as this,
And sit and sing herself away
To everlasting bliss.
The Sabbath.-Meditation.
1 SWEET is the task, my God, my King,
To praise thy name, give thanks and sing,
To show thy love by morning light,
And talk of all thy truth at night.
2 Sweet is the day of sacred rest,
No mortal cares shall seize my breast;
O may my heart in tune be found,
Like David's harp of solemn sound!
3 My heart shall triumph in my Lord,
And bless his works, and bless his word;
Thy works of grace, how bright they shine!
How deep thy counsels! how divine!
4 Fools never raise their thoughts so high;
Like brutes they live, like brutes they die;
Like grass they flourish, 'till thy breath
Blast them in everlasting death.
5 But I shall share a glorious part
When grace hath well refined my heart,
And fresh supplies of joy are shed,
Like holy oil, to cheer my head.
Sin (my worst enemy before)
Shall vex my eyes and ears no more;
My inward foes shall all be slain,
Nor Satan break my peace again.
7 Then shall I see, and hear, and know
All I desired or wish'd below;
And every power find sweet employ
In that eternal world of joy.
The Sabbath.-Praise.
1 THE Lord of Sabbath let us praise,
In concert with the blest;
Who, joyful in harmonious lays,
Employ an endless rest.
Thus, Lord, while we remember Thee,
We bless'd and pious grow;
By hymns of praise we learn to be
Triumphant here below.
2 On this glad day a brighter scene
Of glory was display'd,
By God, the eternal Word, than when
This universe was made:
He rises, who mankind has bought
With grief and pain extreme:
'Twas great to speak a world from nought;
'Twas greater to redeem.
The Sabbath.-Worship.
1. LORD of the Sabbath! hear us pray, In this thy house, on this thy day; Accept as grateful sacrifice,
The songs which from thy temple rise.
2 Now met to pray, and bless thy name,
Whose mercies flow each day the same,
Whose kind compassions never cease;
We seek instruction, pardon, peace.
3 Thine earthly Sabbaths, Lord! we love; But there's a nobler rest above;
O that we might that rest attain
From sin, from sorrow, and from pain!
4 In thy blest kingdom we shall be
From every mortal trouble free;
No sighs shall mingle with the songs
Resounding from immortal tongues.
5 No rude alarms of raging foes,
No cares to break the long repose,
No midnight shade, no clouded sun,
But sacred, high, eternal noon.
6 O long expected day, begin!
Dawn on this world of wo and sin:
Fain would we leave this weary road,
To sleep in death, and rest in God.
The Sabbath.-Before Sermon.
10 MAY the Power which melts the rock
Be felt by all assembled here!
Or else our service will but mock
That God whom we profess to fear.
2 How long hath He bestow'd his care
On this indulg'd, ungrateful land!
How oft, in times of danger near,
Preserv'd us by his sovereign hand!
3 Here peace and liberty have dwelt;
The glorious gospel brightly shone ;
And oft our mightiest foes have felt
That God hath made our cause his own.
4 But ah! both heaven and earth have heard Our vile requital of his love:
We, whom like children He has rear'd,
For all his care unthankful prove.
5 See! He uplifts his chastening rod;-
O! where are now the faithful few,
Who tremble for the ark of God,
And know what Israel ought to do?
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