36.

FATHER! by Thy love and power
Comes again the evening hour;
Light has vanished, labours cease,
Weary creatures rest in peace:
We to Thee ourselves resign;
Let our latest thoughts be Thine.

Saviour! to Thy Father bear
This our feeble evening prayer;
Thou hast seen how oft to-day
We like sheep have gone astray;
Blessed Saviour, yet through Thee
Grant that we may pardoned be.

Holy Spirit! breath of balm,
Fall on us in evening's calm;
Yet awhile before we sleep,
We with Thee will vigil keep :
Melt our spirits, mould our will,
Soften, strengthen, comfort still.

Blessed Trinity! be near

Through the hours of darkness drear;

Watch o'er our defenceless head,

Keep all evil from our bed;

Till the light of morning rays
Wake us to a song of praise.

37.

LORD of my life, whose tender care
Hath led me on till now,

Here lowly at the hour of prayer
Before Thy throne I bow;
I bless Thy gracious hand, and pray
Forgiveness for another day.

O may I daily, hourly strive

In heavenly grace to grow; To Thee and to Thy glory live, Dead else to all below;

Tread in the path my Saviour trod, Though thorny, yet the path to God!

With prayer my humble praise I bring For mercies day by day;

Lord, teach my heart Thy love to sing,
Lord, teach me how to pray!

All that I have, and am, to Thee
I offer through eternity!

38.

GOD of ages never-ending,

Ruling all with Sovereign power, Whose firm truth, our steps attending, Led us on from childhood's hour; Lord, this day our souls shall raise, Waking them to purer praise.

May we love these hours of leisure,— 'Tis the Lord's own holy feast, Comforting with hallowed pleasure, Hearts from daily toil released;

While His Spirit, freely given,

Points the way from earth to heaven.

Lord, confirm the prayers we're raising,
For Thy flock are Thine alone:
All Thy holy name be praising,
All Thy glorious greatness own;
Till we've run our earthly race,
And in heaven behold Thy face!

39.

MORN of morns, and day of days, Silent as the morning's rays,

From the sepulchre's dark prison Christ, the Light of lights, hath risen.

He commanded, and His Word Death and the dread chaos heard: We, O shame, more deaf than they, In the chains of darkness stay.

Lord! to hearts in slumber weak
Let the heavenly trumpet speak;
And, like lights of early morn,
New ways mark the newly born.

Grant us this, and with us be,
Sole Fount of all Charity:
Thou who dost the Spirit give,
Bidding the dead letter live.

Equal praise to Father, Son,
And to Thee, the Holy One,
By whose quickening breath divine
Our dull spirits burn and shine.

40.

LORD of the worlds above,
How pleasant and how fair
The dwellings of Thy love,
Thy earthly temples, are!
To Thine abode

My heart aspires
With warm desires
To see my God.

O happy souls that pray
Where God appoints to hear!
O happy men that pay

Their constant service there!

They praise Thee still;

And happy they

That love the way

To Sion's hill.

They go from strength to strength

Through this dark vale of tears,
Till each arrives at length,

Till each in heaven appears:

O glorious seat,

When God our King

Shall thither bring

Our willing feet!