2 Oh! like the sun, may I fulfil
Th' appointed duties of the day; With ready mind, and active will, March on, and keep my heav'nly way. 3 Lord, thy commands are clean and pure, Enlightening our beclouded eyes; Thy threatenings just-thy promise sure; Thy gospel makes the simple wise. 4 Give me thy counsels for my guide, And then receive me to thy bliss; All my desires and hopes beside
Are faint and cold compared with this.
1 GOD of my life, my morning song
To thee I cheerful raise:
Thy acts of love 'tis good to sing,
And pleasant 'tis to praise.
2 Preserv'd by thy almighty arm,
I pass'd the shades of night,
Serene, and safe from every harm,
To see the morning light.
3 While numbers spent the night in sighs,
And restless pains and woes,
In gentle sleep I closed my eyes,
And rose from sweet repose.
4 Oh let the same almighty care
Through all this day attend:
From every danger-every snare,
My heedless steps defend.
Thankful from my couch I rise,
To the God that rules the skies.
2 Thou didst hear my ev'ning cry;
Thy preserving hand was nigh;
Peaceful slumbers thou hast shed,
Grateful to my weary head.
3 Thou hast kept me through the night;
'Twas thy hand restor❜d the light:
Lord, thy mercies still are new,
Plenteous as the morning dew.
4 Still my feet are prone to stray;
Oh! preserve me through the day:
Dangers every where abound;
Sins and snares beset me round.
5 Gently, with the dawning ray,
On my soul thy beams display;
Sweeter than the smiling morn,
Let thy cheering light return.
1 O LORD, how many are my foes,
In this weak state of flesh and blood;
My peace they daily discompose,
But my defence and hope is God.
2 Tired with the burdens of the day,
To thee I raised an ev❜ning cry;
Thou heardst, when I began to pray,
And thine almighty help was nigh.
3 Supported by thine heav'nly aid,
I laid me down and slept secure;
Not death should make my heart afraid,
Though I should wake and rise no more.
2 Guarded by him, I laid me down,
My sweet repose to take;
For I through him securely sleep,
Through him in safety wake.
3 Salvation to the Lord belongs;
He only can defend;
His blessing he extends to all,
That on his power depend.
HYMN. S. M.
Prayer for spiritual Light.
1 WE lift our hearts to Thee,
Thou Day-Star from on high;
The sun itself is but thy shade,
Yet cheers both earth and sky.
2 O, let thy rising beams
Dispel the shades of night; And let the glories of thy love Come like the morning light. 3 How beauteous nature now! How dark and sad before! With joy we view the pleasing change, And nature's God adore.
4 May we this life improve
To mourn for errors past;
And live this short revolving day
As if it were our last.
HYMN. S. M.
Morning Meditation.
I AWAKE, my drowsy soul,
These airy visions chase;
And to her great Original Her humble tribute bring. 4 Serene, I laid me down
Beneath his guardian care;
I slept, and I awoke, and found
My kind preserver near.
5 Dear Saviour, to thy cross,
I bring my sacrifice;
Ting'd with thy blood, it shall ascend
With fragrance to the skies.
10 God's goodness renewed every Morning and E^
1 GREAT GOD! my early vows to thee
With gratitude I'll bring;
And at the rosy dawn of day
Thy lofty praises sing.
2 Thou, round the heav'nly arch dost draw A dark and sable veil,
And all the beauties of the world,
From mortal eyes conceal.
3 Again the sky with golden beams
Thy skilful hands adorn,
And paint, with cheerful splendour gay,
The fair ascending morn.
4 And as the gloomy night returns,
Or smiling day renews,
Thy constant goodness still my soul
With benefits pursues.
5 For this will I my vows to thee
With ev❜ning incense bring;
And at the rosy dawn of day
Thy lofty praises sing.
(Israel's great Keeper, King of kings)
My weary head found rest:
No dire alarms, or racking pains,
Devouring flames, or galling chains,
Disturb my peaceful breast.
3 How many, since I laid me down,
Have launch'd into a world unknown,
To meet a dreadful doom;
While some on watery billows toss'd,
Or wand'ring on an unknown coast,
Have sigh'd in vain for home.
4 But, I am spared to see thy face,
A monument of saving grace,
And live to praise thy name:
Still be thou near, my gracious Lord,
To keep and guide;—and by thy word
Peace to my soul proclaim.
5 Let me enjoy thy presence here,
In ev'ry storm my heart to cheer,
Till thou shalt bid me rise,
Where sin and sorrow never come,
Till at my blest eternal home,
I wake in sweet surprise.
The fear of God. Prov. xxiii. 17.
1 THRICE happy souls, who, born of heav'n,
While yet they sojourn here,
Humbly begin their days with God,
And spend them in his fear.
2 So may our eyes with holy zeal
Prevent the dawning day;
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