3 Through each perplexing path of life
Our wandering footsteps guide;
Give us each day our daily bread,
And raiment fit provide.

4 O spread thy covering wings around,
Till all our wanderings cease,
And at our Father's loved abode
Our souls arrive in peace.

5 Such blessings from thy gracious hand
Our humble prayers implore;
And thou shalt be our chosen God,
And portion evermore ©.

70.

"Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy
power."-Ps. cx. 3.

1 Now, gracious Lord, thine arm reveal,
And make thy glory known;
Now let us all thy presence feel,
And soften hearts of stone.

2 Help us to venture near thy throne,
And plead a Saviour's name;
For all that we can call our own
Is vanity and shame.

3 From all the guilt of former sin
May mercy set us free;

And let the year, we now begin,
Begin and end with thee.

4 Send down thy Spirit from above,
That saints may love thee more;
And sinners now may learn to love,
Who never loved before.

[C.M.

5 And when before thee we appear
In our eternal home,

May growing numbers worship here,
And praise thee in our room.

The Epiphany.

"THE GENTILES SHALL COME ΤΟ THY LIGHT, AND

KINGS TO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THY RISING."

71.

"The star which they saw in the East went before [C.M. them."-MATT. ii. 9.

10 THOU who by a star didst guide
The wise men on their way,

Until it came and stood beside
The place where Jesus lay;

2 Although by stars thou dost not lead
Thy servants now below,

Thy Holy Spirit, when they need,
Will show them how to go.

3 As yet we know thee but in part;
But still we trust thy word,
That blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see the Lord.

4 O Saviour, give us then thy grace
To make us pure in heart,

That we may see thee face to face
Hereafter as thou art.

72.

"We have seen his star in the East."

MATT. ii. 2.

I SONS of men, behold from far,
Hail the long-expected star;
Jacob's star that gilds the night,
Guides bewilder'd nature right.

2 Mild it shines on all beneath,
Piercing through the shades of death;
Scattering error's wide-spread night,
Kindling darkness into light.

3 Nations all, remote and near,
Haste to see your God appear:
Haste, for him your hearts prepare,

Meet him manifested there.

4 There behold the day-spring rise,
Pouring light upon your eyes:
See it chase the shades away,
Shining to the perfect day.

5 Sing, ye morning stars, again,
God descends on earth to reign,
Deigns for man his life to employ ;
Shout, ye sons of God, for joyi.

73,

"I am the bright and morning star."
REV. xxii. 16.

1 As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hail'd its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to thee.

[7s.

[SIX 78.

2 As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger-bed,

There to bend the knee before

Him whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek the mercy-seat.

3 As they offer'd gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin's alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to thee, our heavenly King.
4 Holy Jesu, every day

Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransom'd souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds thy glory hide.
5 In the heavenly country bright
Need they no created light;
Thou its light, its joy, its crown,
Thou its sun which goes not down;
There for ever may we sing

Hallelujahs to our King k.

74. "Until the day dawn, and the day-star arise in

your hearts."-2 PET. i. 19.

[P.M.

1 BRIGHTEST and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid: Star of the east, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

2 Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining, Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall; Angels adore him in slumber reclining,

Maker and Monarch and Saviour of all.

3 Say, shall we yield him, in costly devotion,
Odours of Edom, and offerings divine?
Gems of the mountain, and pearls of the ocean,
Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

4 Vainly we offer each ample oblation,

Vainly with gifts would his favour secure; Richer by far is the heart's adoration,

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

5 Brightest and best of the sons of the morning, Dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid: Star of the east, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

75.

"There shall come a star out of Jacob."
NUM. xxiv. 17.

[L.M.

1 WHEN, marshall'd on the nightly plain,
The glittering host.bestud the sky,:
One star alone of all the train

Can fix the sinner's wandering eye.

2 Hark! hark! to God the chorus breaks
From every host, from every gem;
But one alone the Saviour speaks;
It is the Star of Bethlehem.

3 It is my guide, my light, my all,
It bids my dark forebodings cease;
And through the storm and dangers' thrall,
It leads me to the port of peace.

4 Then safely moor'd, my perils o'er,
I'll sing, first in night's diadem,
For ever and for evermore,

The Star, the Star of Bethlehem".