Early rising. Mark i. 35.
1 MY lovely Jesus, while on earth,
Arose before 'twas day,
And to a solitary place
Departed, there to pray.
2 I'll do as did my blessed Lord;
His footsteps I will trace.
I love to meet him in the grove,
And view his smiling face.
3 Early I'll rise, and sing, and pray,
While I the light enjoy;
May this bless'd work, from day to day
My heart and tongue employ.
366. L. M.
An evening hymn.
1 THUS far the Lord has led me on;
Thus far his power prolongs my days;
And ev'ry 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,
He 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 break my tomb, With sweet salvation in the sound.
1 DREAD Sovereign! let my evening song
Like holy incense rise;
Assist the offering of my tongue
To reach the lofty skies.
2 Through all the dangers of the day
Thy hand was still my guard;
And still to drive my wants away
Thy mercy stood prepar'd.
3 Perpetual blessings from above
Encompass me around;
But O how few returns of love
Hath my Redeemer found!
4 What have I done for him who died
To save my guilty soul?
Alas, my sins are multiplied
Fast as my minutes roll!
5 Yet, with this guilty heart of mine,
Lord, to thy cross I flee,
And to thy grace my soul resign,
To be renew'd by thee.
Parkinson. 368. c. M.
1 BEGONE, my worldly cares, away!
Nor dare to tempt my sight;
Let me begin th' ensuing day
Before I end this night.
2 Yes, let the work of prayer and praise
Employ my heart and tongue.
Begin, my soul !--thy sabbath days
Can never be too long.
3 Let the past mercies of the week
Excite a grateful frame;
Nor let my tongue refuse to speak
Some good of Jesus' name.
4 Jesus!-how pleasing is the sound
How worthy of my love!
Why is my heart so lifeless found?
Why plac'd no more above?
5 Forgive my dulness, dearest Lord,
And quicken all my powers;
Prepare me to attend thy word,
To improve the sacred hours.
6 On wings of expectation borne,
My hopes to heaven ascend
I long to welcome in the morn,
The day with thee to spend.
1 SOFTLY, now, the light of day
Fades upon my sight away.
Free from care-from labor free,
Lord, I would commune with thee.
2 Soon to me the light of day
Shall forever pass away:
Then, from sin and sorrow free,
Take me, Lord, to dwell with thee!
1 GOD of my life, my morning song
To thee I cheerful raise;
Thy acts of love 'tis good to sing,
And pleasant 'tis to praise.
2 Preserv'd by thy almighty arm,
I pass'd the shades of night
Serene, and safe from ev'ry harm,
To see the morning light.
3 While numbers spent the night in sighs,
And restless pains and woes,
In gentle sleep I clos'd my eyes,
And rose from sweet repose.
4 O let the same almighty care
Through all this day attend ;
From ev'ry danger, ev'ry snare
My heedless steps defend.
5 Smile on my minutes as they roll,
And guide my future days;
And let thy goodness fill my soul,
With gratitude and praise.
1 IN mercy, Lord, remember me
Through all the hours of night,
And grant to me most graciously
The safeguard of thy might.
2 With cheerful heart I close my eyes
Since thou wilt not remove;
O, in the morning let me rise
Rejoicing in thy love.
3 Or, if this night should prove the last,
And end my transient days,
Lord, take me to thy promis'd rest,
Where I may sing thy praise.
1 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.
2 My days, unclouded as they pass,
And ev'ry gently-rolling hour,
Are monuments of wondrous grace,
And witness to thy love and power.
3 Thy love and power, celestial guard!
Preserve me from surrounding harm:
Can danger reach me while the Lord
Extends his kind, protecting arm?
4 Let this blest hope my eyelids close;
With sleep refresh my feeble frame.
Safe in thy care may I repose,
And wake with praises to thy name.
1 WITH thee, great God, the stores of light, And stores of darkness, lie;
Thou form'st the sable veil of night,
And spread'st it round the sky.
2 And when, with welcome slumber press'd, We close our weary eyes,
Thy power unseen secures our rest,
And makes us joyful rise.
3 Numbers, last night, great God, have met
Their long, eternal doom,
And lost the joys of morning light
In death's tremendous gloom.
|