2 Wake, and lift up thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praises to th' eternal King.
3 In conversation be sincere ;
Keep conscience, as the noontide, clear;
Think how the all-seeing God thy ways
And all thy secret thoughts surveys.
4 Lord, I my vows to thee renew;
Scatter my sins like morning dew;
Guard my first springs of thought and will
And with thyself my spirit fill.
5 Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say,
That all my powers, with all their might,
In thy sole glory may unite.
Acknowledging God's Hand. Morning.
1 WHAT Secret hand, at morning light,
Softly unseals mine eye,
Draws back the curtain of the night,
And opens earth and sky;
2 'Tis thine, my God, the same that kept
My resting hours from harm;
No ill came nigh me, for I slept
Beneath th' Almighty's arm.
3 'Tis thine, my daily bread that brings,
Like manna scattered round,
And clothes me, as the lily springs
In beauty from the ground.
4 In death's dark valley though I stray,
'T would there my steps attend,
Guide with the staff my lonely way,
And with the rod defend.
5 May that sure hand uphold me still
Through life's uncertain race,
To bring me to thy holy hill,
And to thy dwelling-place.
1 Now, the shades of night are gone;
Now the morning light comes on;
Lord, may we be thine to-day,
Drive the shades of sin away.
2 Fill our souls with heavenly light,
Banish doubt, and clear our sight;
In thy service, Lord, to-day,
May we stand, and watch and pray.
3 Keep our haughty passions bound;
Save us from our foes around;
Going out and coming in,
Keep us safe from every sin.
4 When our work of life is past,
O, receive us then at last;
Night and sin will be no more,
When we reach the heavenly shore.
1 GoD of the morning, at whose voice
The cheerful sun makes haste to rise,
And like a giant doth rejoice
To run his journey through the skies.
2 From the fair chambers of the east, The circuit of his race begins, And, without weariness or rest,
Round the whole earth he flies and shines.
3 0, like the sun may I fulfil
The appointed duties of the day,
With ready mind and active will
March on and keep my heavenly way.
4 Lord, thy commands are clean and pure,
Enlightening our beclouded eyes,
Thy threatenings just, thy promise sure,
Thy gospel makes the simple wise.
1 LORD of my life! O may thy praise
Employ my noblest powers,
Whose goodness lengthens out my days.
And fills the circling hours!
2 Preserved by thy almighty arm,
I passed the shades of night,
Serene and safe from every harm,
And see returning light.
3 While many spend the night in sighs
And restless pains and woes,
In gentle sleep I close my eyes
And undisturbed repose.
4 When sleep death's semblance o'er me spread, And I unconscious lay,
Thy watchful care was round my bed,
To guard my feeble clay.
5 0 let the same almighty care
My waking hours attend;
From every danger, every snare,
My heedless steps defend.
Morning or Evening Hymn.
1 MY GOD, how endless is thy love!
Thy gifts are every evening new;
And morning mercies, from above,
Gently distil like early dew.
2 Thou spread'st the curtains of the night,
Great Guardian of my sleeping hours;
Thy sovereign word restores the light,
Ånd quickens all my drowsy powers.
3 I yield my powers to thy command;
To thee I consecrate my days;
Perpetual blessings from thine hand
Demand perpetual songs of praise.
8s. & 7s. M.
Confidence in God's Protection.
1 FATHER, 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.
Morning or Evening. — All from God.
1 FATHER! thy paternal care
Has my guardian been, my guide!
Every hallowed wish and prayer
Has thy hand of love supplied;
Thine is every thought of bliss,
Left by hours and days gone by;
Every hope thy offspring is,
Beaming from futurity.
2 Every sun of splendid ray;
Every moon that shines serene;
Every morn that welcomes day;
Every evening's twilight scene,
Every hour which wisdom brings;
Every incense at thy shrine;
These and all life's holiest things,
And its fairest -all are thine.
3 And for all, my hymns shall rise
Daily to thy gracious throne:
Thither let my asking eyes
Turn unwearied-righteous One!
Through life's strange vicissitude
There reposing all my care,
Trusting still through ill and good,
Fixed and cheered and counselled there.
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