HEAVENLY Shepherd, guide us, feed us,
Through our pilgrimage below,
And beside the waters lead us,
Where Thy flock rejoicing go.
Lord, Thy guardian presence ever,
Meekly bending, we implore;
We have found Thee, and would never,
Never wander from Thee more.
LEADER of faithful souls, and Guide
Of all who seek the land above,
Beneath Thy shadow we abide,
The cloud of Thy protecting love;
Our strength Thy grace, our rule Thy word,
Our end the glory of the Lord.
By Thine unerring spirit led,
We shall not in the desert stray,
We shall not full direction need,
Nor miss our providential way;
As far from danger as from fear,
While Love, almighty Love, is near
LEAD us with Thy gentle sway,
As a willing child is led;
Speed us on our upward way,
As a pilgrim, Lord, is sped,
Who with prayers and helps divine
Seeks a consecrated shrine.
Lead us, Father, Thou dost know
All the way; but, wanderers, we
Often miss our way below,
And stretch out our hands to Thee;
Guide us, save us, and prepare
Our appointed mansion there!
LORD, dismiss us with Thy blessing,
Hope and comfort from above;
Let us each, Thy peace possessing,
Triumph in redeeming love:
Still support us
While in duty's path we move.
Thanks we give, and adoration,
For the gospel's joyful sound;
May the fruits of Thy salvation
In our hearts and lives abound:
May Thy presence
With us evermore be found.
Gon, our Sun! the day we own
Thine,in holy pleasures flown;
God, our Shield! with confidence
Thee we make the night's defence.
Thee we bless for each high thought
By these hours of worship brought;
Thee we trust for aid to lead
Holy thought to holy deed.
Lo, the day of rest declineth,
Gather fast the shades of night;
May the Sun which ever shineth
Fill our souls with heavenly light!
While, Thine ear of love addressing,
Thus our parting hymn we sing,
Father, grant Thine evening blessing,
Fold us safe beneath Thy wing!
Now with creation's morning song
Let us, as children of the day,
With wakened heart and purpose strong,
The works of darkness cast away.
O, may the morn so pure, so clear,
Its own sweet calm in us instil,
A guileless mind, a heart sincere,
Simplicity of word and will.
And ever, as the day glides by,
May we the busy senses rein,
Keep guard upon the hand and eye,
Nor let the conscience suffer stain.
Grant us, O God! in love to Thee,
Clear eyes to measure things below,
Faith, the invisible to see,
And wisdom, Thee in all to know.
O, TIMELY happy, timely wise,
Hearts that with rising morn arise;
Eyes that the beam celestial view
Which evermore makes all things new!
New every morning is the love
Our waking and uprising prove;
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life, and power, and thought.
New mercies, each returning day,
Do hover round us as we pray;
New perils past, new sins forgiven,
New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven.
Do Thou, O Lord! in Thy dear love,
Fit us for perfect rest above;
And help us, this, and every day,
To live more nearly as we pray.
FATHER, the watches of the night are o'er;
To light and life the soul has risen once more;
Blessed be Thou, who, through the helpless hours,
Hast kept in deepest peace her slumbering powers.
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