To him we owe our breath,
He took us from the womb,
Which else had shut us up in death,
And prov'd an early tomb.
In childhood and in youth
His eye was on us still;
Tho' strangers to his love and truth,
And prone to cross his will.
Now, thro' another year,
Supported by his care, We raise our Ebenezer here, "The Lord has help'd thus far."
Our lot in future years
Unable to forsee;
Yet would we, Lord, dismiss our fears, And leave it all to thee.
Wholly we wish to cast
Our cares upon thy breast!
Help us to praise thee for the past,
And trust thee for the rest.
6. For the Opening of the New Year. c.M.
Now, gracious Lord, thine arm reveal,
And make thy glory known;
Now let us all thy presence feel,
And soften hearts of stone!
Help us to venture near thy throne,
And plead a Saviour's name;
For all that we can call our own
Is vanity and shame.
[3 From all the guilt of former sin
May mercy set us free :
And let the year we now begin,
Begin and end with thee.]
4 Semd down thy Spirit from above,
That saints may love thee more;
And sinners now may learn to love,
Who never lov'd before.
5 And when before thee we appear,
In our eternal home,
May growing nunbers worship here,
And praise thee in our room.
Cause me to hear thy loving kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust.-Ps. cxliii. 8.
1 CHRIST, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true, the only light,
Sun of righteousness, arise,
Triumph o'er the shades of night;
Day-spring from on high, be near,
Day-star, in my heart appear!
2 Dark and cheerless is the morn,
Unaccompany'd by thee;
Joyless is the day's return,
Till thy mercy's beams I see;
Till they inward light impart,
Glad mine eyes, and warm my heart.
Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, source of light divine;
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.
498. Evening. L.M.
t my prayer be set forth before thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice -PSALM CXli. 2.
Great God, to thee my evening song
With humble gratitude I raise;
O let thy mercy tune my tongue,
And fill my heart with lively praise.
My days, unclouded as they pass,
And ev'ry gentle rolling hour,
Are monuments of wondrous grace,
And witness to thy love and power.
And yet this thoughtless wretched heart,
Too oft regardless of thy love,
Ungrateful can from thee depart,
And fond of trifles, vainly rove.
Seal my forgiveness in the blood
Of Jesus; his dear name alone
I plead for pardon, gracious God,
And kind acceptance at thy throne.
Let this blest hope mine eyelids close,
With sleep refresh my feeble frame;
Safe in thy care may I repose,
And wake with praises to thy name.
499. Evening. 8-7-7.
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for thou,
LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.—PSAL. iv. 8.
THRO' the day thy love has spar'd us,
Now we lay us down to rest:
Thro' the silent watches guard us;
Let no foe our peace molest:
Jesus, thou our guardian be:
Sweet it is to trust in thee.
2 Pilgrims here on earth and strangers,
Dwelling in the midst of foes;
Us and ours preserve from dangers;
In thine arms may we repose:
And when life's sad day is past,
Rest with thee in heav'n at last.
500. Morning Hymn. L.M.
1 AWAKE, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run:
Shake off dull sloth, and early rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
2 Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who day and night unwearied sing
High glory to th' Eternal King.
3 Glory to thee, who safe hast kept,
And hast refresh'd me while I slept ;
Grant, Lord, from death when I awake,
I may of endless life partake,
4 Since thine all-seeing eye surveys
My secret thoughts, my words, and ways: O guard my thoughts, and guide my will, And with thyself my spirit fill.
5 Direct, controul, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say;
That all my powers, employ'd aright.
In thy sole glory may unite.
6 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.
501. Evening Hymn. L.M.
1 GLORY to thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Under thine own Almighty wings.
2 Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
The ills that I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.
3 O may my soul on thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close;
Sleep that may me more active make
To serve my God when I awake.
4 Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;
Teach me to die, that so I may
With joy behold the judgment day.
|