FURNESS.

364

7s. M.

MORNING HYMN.

1 IN the morning I will pray
For God's blessing on the day;
What this day shall be my lot,
Light or darkness, know I not.

2 Should it be with clouds o'ercast,
Clouds of sorrow, gathering fast,
Thou, who givest light divine,
Shine within me, Lord, O, shine!

3 Show me, if I tempted be,
How to find all strength in Thee,
And a perfect triumph win
Over every bosom sin.

4 Keep my feet from secret snares,
Keep mine eyes, O God, from tears!
Every step Thy love attend,

And my soul from death defend!

365.

C. M.

ST. AMBROSE.

MORNING HYMN.

1 Now that the sun is beaming bright,

Implore we, bending low,
That He, the uncreated Light,
May guide us as we go.

2 No sinful word, nor deed of wrong,
Nor thoughts that idly rove,

But simple truth be on our tongue,
And in our hearts be love.

3 And while the hours in order flow,
Securely keep, O God,

Our hearts, beleaguered by the foe
That tempts our every road.

4 And grant that to Thine honor, Lord,
Our daily toil may tend;
That we begin it at Thy word,
And in Thy favor end.

366.

L. M.

MORNING HYMN FOR A CHILD.

PIERPONT.

1 O GOD! I thank Thee that the night
In peace and rest hath passed away,
And that I see in this fair light
My Father's smile, that makes it day.

2 Be Thou my guide, and let me live
As under Thine all-seeing eye;
Supply my wants, my sins forgive,
And make me happy when I die.

367.

P. M.

EVENING ASPIRATION.

GOD that madest earth and heaven,

Darkness and light!

Who the day for toil hast given,
For rest the night!

May Thine angel guards defend us,
Slumber sweet Thy mercy send us,
Holy dreams and hopes attend us,
This livelong night!

HEBER

368.

7s. M.

EVENING HYMN.

ST. GREGORY.

1 SOURCE of light and life divine!
Thou didst cause the light to shine;
Thou didst bring Thy sunbeams forth
O'er Thy new-created earth.

2 Shade of night and morning ray
Took from Thee the name of day:
Now again the shades are nigh,
Listen to Thy children's cry!

3 May we ne'er, by guilt depressed,
Lose the way to endless rest;
May no thoughts, corrupt and vain,
Draw our souls to earth again.

4 Rather help them still to rise
Where our dearest treasure lies;
Help us in our daily strife,
Make us struggle into life!

369.

L. M.

* WORDSWORTH

SUNSET HYMN.

1 Up to the throne of God is borne
The voice of praise at early morn,
And He accepts the reverent hymn
Sung as the light of day grows dim.

2 Look up to heaven! the obedient sun
Already through his course hath run;
He cannot halt or go astray,
But our immortal spirits may.

3 Lord, since his rising in the east,
If we have faltered or transgressed,
Guide, from Thy love's abundant source,
What yet remains of this day's course.

4 Help with Thy grace, through all life's day,
Our upward and our downward way;
And glorify for us the west,

When we shall sink into our rest.

370.

P. M.

ANONYMOUS.

VESPERS.

1 FADING, Still fading, the last beam is shining; Father in heaven! the day is declining; Safety and innocence flee with the light, Temptation and danger walk forth with the

night;

From the fall of the shade till the morning bells chime,

Shield us from danger and keep us from crime! Father! have mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen!

2 Father in heaven! O, hear, when we call, Through Jesus Christ, who is Saviour of all! Fainting and feeble, we trust in Thy might; In doubting and darkness Thy love be our light!

Let us sleep on Thy breast while the night taper burns,

And wake in Thy arms when the morning

returns."

Father! have mercy, through Jesus Christ our Amen!

Lord!

371.

7s. M.

THE LIGHT OF STARS.

* FURNESS.

1 SLOWLY, by God's hand unfurled,
Down around the weary world
Falls the darkness; O, how still
Is the working of His will!

2 Mighty spirit, ever nigh!
Work in me as silently;

Veil the day's distracting sights,
Show me heaven's eternal lights.

3 Living stars to view be brought
In the boundless realms of thought;
High and infinite desires,
Flaming like those upper fires!

4 Holy Truth, Eternal Right,
Let them break upon my sight;
Let them shine serene and still,
And with light my being fill.

372.

L. M.

EVENING HYMN FOR A CHILD.

PIERPONT.

1 ANOTHER day its course hath run,
And still, O God! Thy child is blest;
For Thou hast been by day my sun,
And Thou wilt be by night my rest.

2 Sweet sleep descends, mine eyes to close;
And now, while all the world is still,
I give my body to repose,

My spirit to my Father's will.