which the gravest specimens of the old church music are connected with the liveliest and most joyous strains, differing not at all from the style of the ordinary song. Tune 197, Hymns A. and M., may stand for a specimen of what I mean. Even the imitative style is reproduced in a new form, and the contrasts are formed in alternative verses in the same hymn. See tune 257, A. and M. I do not pronounce an opinion on this style of music. Some of the tunes are the productions of our best and most honoured composers. I only state the fact that these productions are as far removed as they well can be from what is understood by church music, and I question myself whether another reaction will not follow which will exclude them from our churches, as their predecessors (not so far removed from the standard) have been excluded before them. The most objectionable composition of all in our modern hymnals is the evolution of a tune set to solemn words out of the melody of an old song familiar to those that sing at banquets and on similar occasions, such as The Vicar of Bray," in tune 436, A. and M.; "Glorious Apollo" in the tune for the Holy Communion (313); and others which cannot but grate on the ears of those who have known them in their primitive use.

66

BREAK OF DAY.

Morning and Evening.

1 Ps. xix. 1.-The heavens declare the glory of God.

2

OD of the morning! at whose voice

The cheerful sun makes haste to rise;

And like a giant doth rejoice

To run his journey through the skies.

From the fair chambers of the east
The circuit of his race begins,

And without weariness or rest,

Round the whole earth he flies and shines.

O like the sun may I fulfil

The appointed duties of the day,

With ready mind and active will

March on and keep my heavenly way.

Lord, Thy commands are clean and pure,
Enlightening our beclouded eyes;
Thy threatenings just, Thy promise sure,
Thy Gospel makes the simple wise.

Give me Thy counsel for my guide,
And then receive me to Thy bliss;
All my desires and hopes beside
Are faint and cold compared with this.

ONCE

MORNING HYMN.

H. 79, B. 1.

NCE more, my soul, the rising day
Salutes thy waking eyes;

Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay
To Him that rules the skies.

3

Night unto night His name repeats,
And day renews the sound,

Wide as the heaven on which He sits,
To turn the seasons round.

'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.

On a poor worm Thy power might tread,
And I could ne'er withstand;
Thy justice might have crushed me dead,
But mercy held Thy hand.

A thousand hapless souls are fled
Since the last setting sun,

And yet Thou lengthenest out my thread,
And yet my moments run.

Great God! let all my hours be Thine,
Whilst I enjoy the light;

Then shall my sun in smiles decline,
And bring a pleasant night.

H

MORNING OR EVENING.

H. 6, B. 2.

OSANNAH, with a cheerful sound,
To God's upholding hand!

Ten thousand snares attend us round,
And yet secure we stand.

That was a most amazing power
Which raised us with a word,

And every day and every hour
We lean upon the Lord.

The evening rests our wearied head,
And angels guard the room;
We wake, and we admire the bed

Which was not made our tomb.

4

No rising morning can assure
That we shall end the day;
For death stands ready at the door
To seize our lives away.

Our breath is forfeited by sin
To God's avenging law;

We own Thy grace, Immortal King,
In every breath we draw.

God is our sun, whose daily light
Our joy and safety brings;
Our feeble flesh lies safe at night
Beneath His shady wings.

H. 5, B. 2.

Lam. iii. 23.-Thy mercies are new every morning.

Y

MORNING OR EVENING.

My God, how endless is Thy love!
ee every evening new;

And morning mercies from above
Gently distil like early dew.

Thou spread'st the curtains of the night,
Great Guardian of my sleeping hours;
Thy sovereign word restores the light,
And quickens all my drowsy powers.
I yield my powers to Thy command,
To Thee I consecrate my days;
Perpetual blessings from Thy hand
Demand perpetual songs of praise.

AN EVENING SONG.

H. 81, B. 1.

READ Sovereign! let my evening song
Like holy incense rise;

Assist the offerings of my tongue

To reach the lofty skies.

Through all the dangers of the day
Thy hand was still my guard,
And still to drive my wants away
Thy mercy stood prepared.

5

6

Perpetual blessings from above
Encompass me around,

But O how few returns of love
Hath my Creator found!

What have I done for Him that died

To save my wretched soul?
How are my follies multiplied,
Fast as my minutes roll!

Lord, with this guilty heart of mine
To Thy dear cross I flee;
And to Thy grace my soul resign
To be renewed by Thee.

Sprinkled afresh with pardoning blood,
I lay me down to rest,

As in the embraces of my God,

Or on my Saviour's breast.

AN EVENING HYMN.

H. 7, B. 2.

HUS far the Lord hath led me on,

TH

Thus far His power prolongs my days;

And every evening shall make known
Some fresh memorial of His grace.

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.

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.

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 His wings.