1 THE voice that breathed o'er Eden,
That earliest wedding day,
The primal marriage blessing,
It hath not passed away.
2 Still in the pure espousal
Of Christian man and maid,
The Holy Three are with us,
The threefold grace is said.
3 Be present, awful Father,
To give away this bride,
As Eve Thou gav'st to Adam
Out of his own pierced side:
4 Be present, Son of Mary,
To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal bands:
5 Be present, Holiest Spirit,
To bless them as they kneel,
As Thou for Christ the Bridegroom
The heavenly spouse dost seal.
60 spread Thy pure wing o'er them,
Let no ill power find place,
When onward to Thine altar
Their hallowed path they trace,
7 To cast their crowns before Thee
In perfect sacrifice,
Till to the home of gladness
With Christ's own Bride they rise.
1 How welcome was the call,
And sweet the festal lay,
When Jesus deigned in Cana's hall
To bless the marriage day.
And happy was the bride,
And glad the bridegroom's heart,
When He who tarried at their side
Bade grief and ill depart.
O Lord of life and love,
Come Thou again to-day;
And bring a blessing from above
That ne'er shall pass away.
O bless, as once of old,
The bridegroom and the bride;
Bless with the holy stream that flowed
Forth from Thy piercéd side.
Before Thine altar-throne
This mercy we implore;
As thou dost knit them, Lord, in one,
So bless them evermore.
1 THRICE happy souls, who, born of heaven,
While yet they sojourn here,
Humbly begin their days with God,
And spend them in His fear.
2 Midst hourly cares may love present
Its incense to Thy throne;
And while the world our hands employs,
Our hearts be Thine alone!
3 When to laborious duties called,
Or by temptations tried,
We'll seek the shelter of Thy wings,
And in Thy strength confide.
4 As different scenes of life arise,
Our grateful hearts would be
With Thee amidst the social band,
In solitude with Thee.
5 At night we lean our weary heads
On Thy paternal breast,
And safely folded in Thine arms,
Resign our powers to rest.
6 In solid pure delights, like these,
Let all my days be passed;
Nor shall I then impatient wish,
Nor shall I fear the last..
MORNING OR EVENING.
L. M. 61.
1 WHEN, streaming from the eastern skies,
The morning light salutes my eyes,
O Sun of Righteousness divine,
On me with beams of mercy shine;
Chase the dark clouds of sin away,
And turn my darkness into day.
2 When to heaven's great and glorious King
My morning sacrifice I bring;
And, mourning o'er my guilt and shame,
Ask mercy, Savior, in Thy Name :
My conscience sprinkle with Thy Blood,
And be my Advocate with God.
3 When each day's scenes and labors close,
And wearied nature seeks repose,
With pardoning mercy richly blest,
Guard me, my Savior, while I rest:
And as each morning's sun shall rise,
O lead me onward to the skies.
4 And at my life's last setting sun,
My conflicts o'er, my labors done,
Jesus, Thy heavenly radiance shed,
To cheer and bless my dying bed;
And from death's gloom my spirit raise,
To see Thy face and sing Thy praise.
Sir Robert Grant. 1832.
1 TEACH us, Lord, Thy Name to know;
Teach us, Lord, Thy Name to love;
May we do Thy will below
As Thy will is done above.
2 When we go to rest at night,
O'er us watch and near us stay;
And when morning brings the light,
May we wake to praise and pray.
Unknown. 1845.
1 GRACIOUS God! to Thee we pray:
Give us grace to pray aright;
Guide and bless us every day,
And defend us every night.
2 Let Thy mercy, while we live,
Every needful want supply;
And Thy blissful presence give,
To support us when we die.
1 AWAKE, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
2 Wake and lift up Thyself, my heart,
And with the angels bear thy part,
Who all night long unwearied sing
High praise to the eternal King.
3 All praise to Thee, who safe hast kept,
And hast refreshed me while I slept :
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake,
I may of endless life partake!
4 Lord, I my vows to Thee renew;
Disperse my sins as morning dew;
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with Thyself my spirit fill.
5 Direct, control, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say;
That all my powers, with all their might,
In Thy sole glory may unite.
6 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.
Jam Lucis orto Sidere.
1 Now that the sun is beaming bright,
Once more to God we pray,
That He, the uncreated Light,
May guide our souls this day.
2 No sinful word, nor deed of wrong,
Nor thoughts that idly rove;
But simple truth be on our tongue,
And in our hearts be love.
3 And while the hours in order flow,
O Christ, securely fence
Our gates beleagured by the foe,
The gate of every sense.
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