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.
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.
Father, the watches of the day are here;
More than from those of night we have to fear;
By rude cares troubled, by temptations pressed,
Through the day-watches, Father, give us rest!
WHEN I AWAKE I AM STILL WITH THEE.'
STILL, still with Thee, when purple morning breaketh,
When the bird waketh and the shadows flee; Fairer than morning, lovelier than the daylight, Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.
Alone with Thee, amid the mystic shadows,
The solemn hush of nature newly born;
Alone with Thee, in breathless adoration,
In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.
As, in the dawning, o'er the waveless ocean
The image of the morning star doth rest,
So, in this stillness, Thou beholdest only
Thine image in the waters of my breast.
When sinks the soul, subdued by toil, to slumber, Its closing eye looks up to Thee in prayer; Sweet the repose beneath Thy wings o'ershading, But sweeter still, to wake and find Thee there.
So shall it be at last, in that bright morning
When the soul waketh and life's shadows flee; O, in that hour, fairer than daylight dawning, Shall rise the glorious thought, I am with Thee!
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