3 I pay this evening sacrifice,
And when my work is done,
Great God, my faith and hope relies,
Upon thy grace alone.
4 Thus with my thoughts compos'd to peace,
I'll give mine eyes to sleep;
Thy hand in safety keeps my days,
And will my slumbers keep.
99. Daily and Nightly Devotion. (C. M.).
E that obey the immortal King,
Attend his holy place,
Bow to the glories of his power,
And bless his wond'rous grace;
2 Lift up your hands by morning light,
And send your souls on high;
Raise your admiring thoughts by night,
Above the starry sky.
3 The God of Zion cheers our hearts
With rays of quick'ning grace;
The God that spreads the heav'ns abroad,
And rules the swelling seas.
100. An Evening Hymn. Psalm iv. 8. (L. M.)
HUS far the Lord has 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,
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 In vain the sons of earth or hell,
Tell me a thousand frightful things;
My God in safety makes me dwell,
Beneath the shadow of thy wings.
5 Faith in his name forbids my fear:
O may thy presence ne'er depart!
And in the morning make me hear,
The love and kindness of thy heart.
6 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.
Morning or Evening. (L. M.)
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 sov'reign word restores the light,
And 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.
102. A Morning Song. (C. M.)
NCE more, my soul, the rising day
Salutes thy waking eyes,
Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay,
To him that rules the skies.
2 Night unto night his name repeats,
The day renews the sound,
Wide as the heav'n on which he sits,
To turn the seasons round.
3 "Tis he supports my mortal frame,
My tongue shall speak his praise;
My sins would rouse his wrath to flame,
And yet his wrath delays.
4 On a poor worm thy power might tread, And I could ne'er withstand;
Thy justice might have crush'd me dead,
But mercy held thine hand.
5 A thousand wretched souls are fled,
Since the last setting sun,
And yet thou length'nest out my thread,
And yet my moments run.
6 Dear God, let all my hours be thine,
While I enjoy the light,
Then shall my sun in smiles decline,
And bring a pleasant night.
READ Sov'reign, let my evening song,
Like holy incense rise;
Assist the offerings 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 Creator found!
4 What have I done for him that dy'd,
To save my wretched soul?
How are my follies multiply'd,
Fast as my minutes roll!
5 Lord, with this guilty heart of mine,
To thy dear cross I flee;
And to thy grace my soul resign,
To be renew'd by thee.
6 Sprinkled afresh with pardoning blood,
I lay me down to rest,
As in th' embraces of my God,
Or on my Saviour's breast.
Morning or Evening. (C. M.)
OSANNA, with a cheerful sound,
To God's upholding band,
Ten thousand snares attend us round,
And yet secure we stand.
2 That was a most amazing power,
That rais'd us with a word,
And every day, and every hour,
We lean upon the Lord.
3 The evening rests our weary head,
And angels guard the room;
We wake, and we admire the bed,
That was not made our tomb.
4 The rising morning can't assure
That we shall end the day,
For death stands ready at the door,
To seize our lives away.
5 Our breath is forfeited by sin
To God's avenging law:
We own thy grace, Immortal King,
In every gasp we draw.
6 God is our sun, whose daily light
Our joy and safety brings:
Our feeble flesh lies safe at night,
Beneath his shady wings.
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