Do Thou Thy gracious comfort give,
By which alone the soul can live;
And grant Thy children, Lord, we pray,
The bread of life from day to day!
THE path of life we walk to-day
Is strange as that the Hebrews trod;
We need the shadowing rock as they,
We need, like them, the guides of God.
God send His angels, Cloud and Fire,
To lead us o'er the desert sand!
God give our hearts their long desire,
His shadow in a weary land!
O, PRESENT still, though still unseen,
When brightly shines the prosperous day,
Be thoughts of Thee a cloudy screen,
To temper the deceitful ray!
And, O, when gathers on our path
In shade and storm the frequent night,
Be Thou, long-suffering, slow to wrath,
A burning and a shining light!
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.
GOD, 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.
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