When with dear friends sweet talk I hold,
And all the flowers of life unfold,
Let not my heart within me burn,
Except in all I Thee discern.

When the soft dews of kindly sleep
My wearied eyelids gently steep,
Be my last thought, how sweet to rest
For ever on my Saviour's breast.
Abide with me from morn till eve,
For without Thee I cannot live ;
Abide with me when night is nigh,
For without Thee I dare not die.

If some poor wandering child of Thine
Have spurned to-day the voice divine,
Now, Lord, the gracious work begin :
Let him no more lie down in sin.

O may I always ready stand
With my lamp burning in my hand :
May I in sight of Heaven rejoice,
Whene'er I hear the Bridegroom's voice!

All praise to Thee, in light arrayed,
Who light Thy dwelling-place hast made;
A boundless ocean of bright beams
From Thy all-glorious Godhead streams.

The Sun in its meridian height
Is very darkness in Thy sight;
My soul O lighten and inflame,
With thought and love of Thy great
Name !

Blessed Jesus! Thou, on Heaven intent,
Whole nights hast in devotion spent ;
But I, frail creature, soon am tired,
And all my zeal is soon expired.

My soul, how canst thou weary grow Of antedating bliss below,

In sacred hymns, and heavenly love, Which will eternal be above?

Shine on me, Lord, new life impart, Fresh ardours kindle in my heart; One ray of Thine all-quickening light Dispels the sloth and clouds of night.

Lord, lest the tempter me surprise, Watch over Thine own sacrifice ; All loose, all idle thoughts cast out, And make my very dreams devout !

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

BISHOP THOMAS KEN.

545.-A Sleepless Night.

ISAIAH XXVI. 9.

HIS lovely meditative strain is from a longer poem beginning:

"Interval of grateful shade :"

entitled by the author "An Evening Hymn to be used when composing one's self to sleep."

Tender friends awhile may mourn
Me from their embraces torn ;
Dearer, better friends I have
In the realms beyond the grave.

See the guardian angels nigh Wait to waft my soul on high! See the golden gates displayed! See the crown to grace my head!

See a flood of sacred light,
Which no more shall yield to-night!
Transitory world, farewell!
Jesus calls, with Him to dwell!

With Thy heavenly presence blest, Death is life, and labour rest; Welcome sleep or death to me, Still secure, for still with Thee!

DR. DODDRIDGE.

546.-Life's Evening.

LUKE xxiv. 29. HIS Hymn is evidently intended for the evening of life rather than for the evening of the day. It was written about two months before the author's death, and was his last composition. About to leave Brixham to winter in the south of France, he wished to preach once more to his people, and to commune with them in the Lord's Supper. "For the last time he dispensed the sacred elements to his sorrowing flock; and then, exhausted with his effort, he retired with a soul in sweet repose on that Christ whom he had preached with his dying breath; and as the evening drew on he handed to a near and dear friend these undying verses, together with his own adapted music for the Hymn." He reached Nice, and there his spirit entered into rest. The fifth verse, generally omitted in hymnals, contains an interesting personal record.

Swift to its close ebbs out life's little day; Earth's joys grow dim, its glories pass

away;

Change and decay in all around I see :
O Thou who changest not, abide with me!

Not a brief glance I beg, a passing word, But as Thou dwell'st with Thy disciples, Lord,

Familiar, condescending, patient, free, Come not to sojourn, but abide with me.

Come not in terrors, as the King of kings, But kind and good, with healing in Thy wings;

Tears for all woes, a heart for every plea : Come, Friend of sinners, thus abide with

me.

Thou on my head in early youth didst smile,

And, though rebellious and perverse meanwhile,

Thou hast not left me, oft as I left Thee ! On to the close, O Lord, abide with me!

I need Thy presence every passing hour— What but Thy grace can foil the tempter's power?

Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?

Through cloud and sunshine, O abide with me!

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless : Ills have no weight, and tears no bitter

ness:

Where is death's sting? where, grave, thy victory?

I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes,

Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies:

Heaven's morning breaks, and earth's vain shadows flee;

In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me!

H. F. LYTE.

Before Thee, Lord, subdued we bow,

To Thee our prayers addressing; Recounting all Thy mercies now,

And all our sins confessing; Beseeching Thee, this coming year, To hold us in Thy faith and fear,

And crown us with Thy blessing.

And while we kneel, we lift our eyes To dear ones gone before us; Safe housed with Thee in Paradise, Their spirits hovering o'er us; And beg of Thee, when life is past, To re-unite us all at last,

And to our lost restore us.

We gather up, in this brief hour,

The memory of Thy mercies: Thy wondrous goodness, love, and power,

Our grateful song rehearses:

For Thou hast been our strength and stay In many a dark and dreary day

Of sorrow and reverses.

In many an hour, when fear and dread
Like evil spells have bound us,
And clouds were gathering overhead,
Thy providence hath found us :
In many a night when waves ran high,
Thy gracious presence drawing nigh
Hath made all calm around us.

Then, O great God, in years to come,
Whatever fate betide us,

Right onward through our journey home

Be Thou at hand to guide us : Nor leave us till, at close of life, Safe from all perils, toil, and strife, Heaven shall unfold and hide us. 7. HAMILTON.

FAT

ATHER, here we dedicate This new year to Thee, In whatever worldly state

Thou wilt have us be : Not from sorrow, pain, or care Freedom dare we claim; This alone shall be our prayer, "Glorify Thy Name."

Can a child presume to choose
Where or how to live?
Can a father's love refuse

All the best to give?
More Thou givest every day

Than the best can claim,
Nor withholdest aught that may
Glorify Thy Name.

If in mercy Thou wilt spare
Joys we yet partake;

If on life, serene and fair,

Brighter rays may break ;

Thee our hearts, while glad they sing,
Shall in all proclaim,

And whate'er the year shall bring,
Glorify Thy Name.

If Thou callest to the Cross,

And its shadow come, Turning all our gain to loss,

Shrouding heart and home; Teach us, Lord, how Thy dear Son To His glory came,

In our woe we'll still pray on, "Glorify Thy Name."

L. TUTTIETT

549.-New Year's Hymn. PSALM lxv. II.

L.M.

ETERNAL Source of every joy,

Well may Thy praise our lips employ, While in Thy temple we appear, Whose goodness crowns the circling year.