603

Morning: The day-star from on high.
E lift our hearts to thee,

WO Day-star from on high!

The sun itself is but thy shade, Yet cheers both earth and sky. 20 let thy rising beams

S. M.

The night of sin disperse,-
The mists of error and of vice,
Which shade the universe.
3 How beauteous nature now;
How dark and sad before;
With joy we view the pleasing change,

And nature's God adore.

4 0 may no gloomy crime

Pollute the rising day;

Or Jesus' blood, like evening dew,
Wash all the stains away.

5 May we this life improve,
To mourn for errors past;

And live this short, revolving day
As if it were our last.

604

Morning: Grateful praise.

L.Employ my noblest powers,

ORD of my life, O may thy praise

C. M.

Whose goodness lengthens out my days,
And fills the circling hours.

2 While many spent the night in sighs,
And restless pains and woes,

In gentle sleep I closed my eyes,
And undisturb'd repose.

30 let the same almighty care

My waking hours attend; From every danger, every snare, My heedless steps defend.

4 Smile on my minutes as they roll,
And guide my future days;
And let thy goodness fill my soul
With gratitude and praise.

605

ON

C. M.

Morning: Confident security.
thee, each morning, O my God,
My waking thoughts attend;
In thee are founded all my hopes,-
In thee my wishes end.

2 My soul, in pleasing wonder lost,
Thy boundless love surveys;

And, fired with grateful zeal, prepares
A sacrifice of praise.

3 God leads me through the maze of sleep,
And brings me safe to light;
And, with the same paternal care,
Conducts my steps till night.

4 When evening slumbers press mine eyes,
With his protection blest,
In peace and safety I commit
My wearied limbs to rest.
5 My spirit, in his hand secure,
Fears no approaching ill;
For, whether waking or asleep,
The Lord is with me still.

606

·Morning and evening mercies.

MY God, how endless is thy love;

L. M.

Thy gifts are every evening new;
And morning mercies from above,
Gently descend like early dew.

2 Thou spread'st the curtains of the night,
Great Guardian of my sleeping hours;
Thy sov'reign word restores the light,
And quickens all my drowsy powers.

3 I yield myself to thy command;
To thee devote my nights and days;
Perpetual blessings from thy hand
Demand perpetual songs of praise.

607

Evening: Trusting in God.

L. M.

YLORY to thee, my God, this night,

GLFor Xt the blessings of the light:

Keep me, O keep me, King of kings,
Beneath the shadow of thy wings.
2 Forgive me, Lord, for thy dear Son,
The ill which I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and thee,
I, ere I sleep, at peace may be.

3 Teach me to live, that I may dread
The grave as little as my bed;
Teach me to die, that so I

may

Rise glorious at the judgment-day.

4 0 let my soul on thee repose,
And may sweet sleep mine eyelids close;
Sleep, which shall me more vig'rous make,
To serve my God, when I awake.

5 Lord, let my soul forever share
The bliss of thy paternal care:

"'Tis heaven on earth, 'tis heaven above, To see thy face, and sing thy love.

608

SOFT

5th P. M. 4 lines 7s.

Evening: Communion with God.
(OFTLY now the light of day
Fades upon our sight away;
Free from care, from labour free,
Lord, we would commune with thee.
2 Soon from us the light of day
Shall forever pass away;
Then, from sin and sorrow free,
Take us, Lord, to dwell with thee.

609

9th P. M. 87, 87.

Evening: Confidence in God's protection. (AVIOUR, breathe an evening blessing, Ere repose our spirits seal;

Sin and want we come confessing;
Thou canst save and thou canst heal.
2 Though destruction walk around us,
Though the arrows past us fly,
Angel guards from thee surround us;
We are safe, if thou art nigh.

3 Though the night be dark and dreary,
Darkness cannot hide from thee;
Thou art He who, never weary,
Watchest where thy people be.

4 Should swift death this night o'ertake us, And command us to the tomb,

May the morn in heaven awake us,
Clad in bright, eternal bloom.

610

C. M.

Evening: Gratitude and trust. YREAT God, to thee my evening song With gratitude I raise;

G

O let thy mercy tune my tongue,
And fill my heart with praise.

2 My days, unclouded as they pass,
And every fleeting hour,

Are monuments of wondrous grace,-
Of mercy, love, and power.

3 Thy love and power, celestial guard,
Preserve me from all harm:

Can danger reach me while the Lord
Extends his mighty arm?

4 Let this blest hope mine eyelids close;
With sleep refresh my frame;
Safe in thy care may I repose,
And wake to praise thy Name.

.611

C. M.

Evening: Numberless mercies.

NOW from the altar of our hearts,

Let warmest thanks arise ;

Assist us, Lord, to offer up
Our evening sacrifice.

2 This day God was our sun and shield,
Our keeper and our guide;

His care was on our weakness shown,—
His mercies multiplied.

3 Minutes and mercies multiplied,
Have made up all this day;

Minutes came quick, but mercies were
More swift and free than they.

4 New time, new favours, and new joys,
Do a new song require:

Till we shall praise thee as we would,
Accept our hearts' desire.

612

L. M.

Evening: Memorials of His grace.
THUS far the Lord hath led me on,-
Thus far his power prolongs my days;
And every evening shall make known
Some fresh memorial of his grace.
2 Much of my time has run to waste,
And I, perhaps, am near my home:
But he forgives my follies past,

And gives me strength for days to come.
3 I lay my body down to sleep;
Peace is the pillow for my head ;
While well-appointed angels keep

Their watchful stations round my bed.

4 Thus, when the night of death shall come, My flesh shall rest beneath the ground, And wait thy voice to rouse my tomb,

With sweet salvation in the sound.