PRAYERS.

Watches of the Night and Day.

FATHER, the watches of the night are o'er ;
To light and life the soul has risen once more;
Blessèd be thou, who through the helpless hours
Hast kept in deepest peace her slumbering powers.

Father, the watches of the day are near:

More than from those of night have we to fear;
By rude cares troubled, and by woes oppressed,
Through the day-watches, Father, give us rest.

(23)

ANONYMOUS.

Inbocation.

SOVEREIGN and transforming Grace!
We invoke thy quickening power;
Reign the spirit of this place,
Bless the purpose of this hour.

Holy and creative Light!

We invoke thy kindling ray ; Dawn upon our spirits' night, Turn our darkness into day.

To the anxious soul impart
Hope all other hopes above;
Stir the dull and hardened heart
With a longing and a love.

Give the struggling peace for strife, Give the doubting light for gloom,

Speed the living into life,

Warn the dying of their doom.

Work in all; in all renew,
Day by day, the life divine;
All our wills to thee subdue,
All our hearts to thee incline.

F. H. HEDGE.

Habitual Devotion.

WHILE thee I seek, protecting power,
Be my vain wishes stilled,
And may this consecrated hour
With better hopes be filled!

Thy love the power of thought bestowed;
To thee my thoughts would soar;
Thy mercy o'er my life has flowed;
That mercy I adore.

In each event of life, how clear
Thy ruling hand I see!

Each blessing to my soul more dear,
Because conferred by thee.

When gladness wings my favored hour, Thy love my thoughts shall fill; Resigned, when storms of sorrow lower, My soul shall meet thy will.

My lifted eye, without a tear,

The gathering storm shall see;
My steadfast heart shall know no fear;
That heart shall rest on thee.

H. M. WILLIAMS.

The Universal Prager.

FATHER of all, in every age,
In every clime, adored,

By saint, by savage, and by sage,
Jehovah, Jove, or Lord! -

Thou great First Cause, least understood, Who all my sense confined

To know but this that thou art good, And that myself am blind;

What conscience dictates to be done,
Or warns me not to do,

This teach me more than hell to shun,
That more than heaven pursue.

Yet not to earth's contracted span
Thy goodness let me bound,
Or think thee Lord alone of man,
When thousand worlds are round.

If I am right, thy grace impart
Still in the right to stay;

If I am wrong, O, teach my heart
To find that better way.

Save me alike from foolish pride,
Or impious discontent

At aught thy wisdom has denied,
Or aught thy goodness lent.

Teach me to feel another's woe,
To hide the fault I see;
That mercy I to others show,
That mercy show to me.

This day be bread and peace my lot: All else beneath the sun

Thou know'st if best bestowed or not; And let thy will be done.

To thee, whose temple is all space,
Whose altar, earth, sea, skies,

One chorus let all being raise!

All nature's incense rise!

(27)

POPE.