"Ask and ye shall receive." Matt. vii. 7.

SCOTT.

1 OUR Father, throned above the sky, To thee our empty hands we spread; Thy children at thy footstool lie,

And ask thy blessings on their head. 2 With cheerful hope and filial fear, In that august and precious name By thee ordained, we now draw near, And would the promised blessing claim.

3 Does not an earthly parent hear

The cravings of his famished son? Will he reject the filial prayer,

Or mock him with a cake of stone?

4 Our heavenly Father, how much more
Will thy divine compassion rise,
And open thine unbounded store
To satisfy thy children's cries!

5 Yes, we will ask, and seek, and press
For gracious audience to thy seat;
Still hoping, waiting, for success,
If persevering to entreat ;-

6 For Jesus, in his faithful word,

The patient supplicant has blessed; And all thy saints, with one accord, The prevalence of prayer attest.

460

585

C. M.

BRYANT.

Imploring the Compassion of God.

1 O GOD, whose dread and dazzling brow Love never yet forsook,

On those who seek thy presence now,

In deep compassion look ;

2 For many a frail and erring heart Is in thy holy sight,

And feet too willing to depart

From the plain way of right.

3 Yet, pleased the humble prayer to hear,
And kind to all that live,

Thou, when thou seest the contrite tear,
Art ready to forgive.

4 Lord, aid us with thy heavenly grace
Our truest bliss to find,
Nor sternly judge our erring race,
So feeble and so blind.

586

C. M.

Close of the Evening Service.

ANONYMOUS.

1 SOON will our fleeting hours be past,
And, as the setting sun

Now leaves the clouds in yonder west,
Our parting beams be gone.

2 May He, from whom all blessings flow,
Our sacred rites attend,

Unite our hearts in wisdom's ways,
Till life's short journey end,—

3 And, as the rapid sands run down,
Our virtue still improve;

Till each receives the glorious crown
Of never-fading love.

587

7s M.

Humble Adoration.

SALISBURY COL.

1 HOLY, holy, holy Lord,
Be thy glorious name adored;
Lord, thy mercies never fail;
Hail, celestial Goodness, hail!

2 Though unworthy, Lord, thine ear,
Deign our humble songs to hear;
Purer praise we hope to bring,
When around thy throne we sing.

3 While on earth ordained to stay,
Guide our footsteps in thy way;
Then on high we'll joyful raise
Songs of everlasting praise.

588

L. M.

The Christian Farewell.

DODDRIDGE.

1 THY presence, everlasting God,
Wide o'er all nature spreads abroad;
Thy watchful eyes, which cannot sleep,
In every place thy children keep.

2 While near each other we remain,
Thou dost our lives and souls sustain ;
When absent, happy if we share
Thy smiles, thy counsels, and thy care.

3 To thee we all our ways commit,
And seek our comforts near thy feet;
Still on our souls vouchsafe to shine,
And guard and guide us still as thine.
4 Give us in thy beloved house

Again to pay our grateful vows;
Or, if that joy no more be known,
Give us to meet around thy throne.

589

C. M.

CHRISTIAN PSALMIST.

The good Seed. After Sermon.

1 ALMIGHTY God, thy word is cast
Like seed into the ground;

Now let the dew of heaven descend,
And righteous fruits abound.

2 Let not the foe of Christ and man
This holy seed remove;
But give it root in every heart
To bring forth fruits of love.

3 Let not the world's deceitful cares
The rising plant destroy;

But let it yield, a hundred fold,
The fruits of peace and joy.

4 Nor let thy word, so kindly sent
To raise us to thy throne,
Return to thee, and sadly tell
That we reject thy Son.

5 Oft as the precious seed is sown,
Thy quickening grace bestow,
That all whose souls the truth receive,
Its saving power may know.

590

C. M.

BISHOP HEBER.

The Seed of the Word.

1 O GOD, by whom the seed is given,

By whom the harvest blest;

Whose word, like manna showered from heaven,
Is planted in our breast;

2 Preserve it from the passing feet,
And plunderers of the air;
The sultry sun's intenser heat,
And weeds of worldly care.

3 Though buried deep, or thinly strown,
Do thou thy grace supply;

The hope in earthly furrows sown
Shall ripen in the sky.

591

C. M.

The Seed sown.

RIPPON S COL.

1 NOW, Lord, the heavenly seed is sown,
Be it thy servants' care

Thy heavenly blessing to bring down,
By humble, fervent prayer.

2 In vain we plant without thine aid,
And water, too, in vain;

Lord of the harvest, God of grace,
Send down thy heavenly rain.

3 Then shall our cheerful hearts and tongues
Begin this song divine: -

"Thou, Lord, hast given the rich increase, And be the glory thine."