For the gospel's cheering ray, 1 FATHER, by Thy love and power, This our feeble evening prayer; 4 Blesséd Trinity, be near Through the hours of darkness drear; Round us set th' angelic host, Till the flood of morning rays Prof. Joseph Anstice. (1808-1836.) 1836. ab. and alt. 2 The year rolls round, and steals away The breath that first it gave; Whate'er we do, where'er we be, We're travelling to the grave. 3 Great God, on what a slender thread Hang everlasting things; The eternal state of all the dead 4 Infinite joy, or endless woe, Attends on every breath; 5 Waken, O Lord, our drowsy sense, 14 Ye wheels of nature, speed your course, Ye mortal powers, decay, Fast as ye bring the night of death, 1252 Rev. Philip Doddridge. (1703—1751.) 1755 God in Nature. Ps. lxv. 1 'TIS by Thy strength the mountains stand, God of eternal power; The sea grows calm at Thy command, 2 Thy morning light and evening shade Thy plenteous fruits make harvest glad, Thy flowers adorn the spring. 3 Seasons and times, and moons and hours, 4 Those wandering cisterns in the sky, 5 The thirsty ridges drink their fill, Thy ways abound with blessings still, 2 Our hope, when autumn winds blew wild, 4 Thine too by right, and ours by grace, We trusted, Lord, with Thee; And still, now spring has on us smiled, We wait on Thy decree. 3 The former and the latter rain, The summer sun and air, The green ear, and the golden grain, PEACE. C. M The wondrous growth unseen, The hopes that soothe, the fears that brace, 5 So grant the precious things brought forth. That Thee, in Thy new heaven and earth, Rev. John Keble. (1792-1866.) 1857. Melchior Vulpius. (c. 1560-) 1609. 2 He sends His showers of blessings down, I FOUNTAIN of mercy, God of love, He makes the grass the mountains crown, 3 His steady counsels change the face He bids the sun cut short his race, And wintry days appear. 4 His hoary frost, His fleecy snow, 5 He sends His word and melts the snow, 6 The changing wind, the flying cloud, With songs and honors sounding loud, Rev. Isaac Watts. 1719. ab. How rich Thy bounties are; 2 When in the bosom of the earth Thy goodness marked its secret birth, 3 The spring's sweet influence was Thine, Thou gav'st refulgent suns to shine, 4 These various mercies from above 5 Seed-time and harvest, Lord, alone Let him not then forget to own Mrs. Alice Flowerdew. (1759-1830.) 1811. ab 2 Wide as the wheels of nature roll, 5 Seasons, and months, and weeks, and days, 13 With grateful hearts the past we own; Be Thou our joy, and Thou our rest; 2 Hath sped its flight on silent wing; And all that marked its brief career Hath passed from mortal reckoning. Lord, for Thy grace and patient love, Unwearied still, and still the same, For all our hopes of joy above, We laud and bless Thy Holy Name. We bless Thee for each happy soul, Throughout another fleeting year, Or by Thy quickening grace made whole, Or parted in Thy faith and fear. 4 Still bear with us, and bless us still; And, while in this dark world we stay, O let us love Thy sacred will, O let us keep Thy narrow way. 5 So, when the rolling stream of time Hath opened to a boundless sea, Loud will we raise that song sublime, "All power and glory be to Thee." Rev. Richard Frederick Littledale. (1833-) 1867 |