2 Fill our souls with heavenly light,
Banish doubt, and clear our sight;
In thy service, Lord, to-day,
May we stand, and watch, and pray.
3 Keep our haughty passions bound;
Save us from our foes around;
Going out and coming in,
Keep us safe from every sin.
4 When our work of life is past,
O, receive us then at last;
Night and sin will be no more,
When we reach the heavenly shore.
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 Thy precious time misspent redeem;
Each present day thy last esteem;
Improve thy talent with due care;
For the great day thyself prepare.
3 In conversation be sincere;
Keep conscience, as the noontide, clear; Think how th' all-seeing God thy ways And all thy secret thoughts surveys.
4 Lord, I my vows to thee renew; Scatter my sins like 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.
1 IN sleep's serene oblivion laid,
I safely passed the silent night:
Again I see the breaking shade,
I drink again the morning light.
2 New-born, I bless the waking hour;
Once more, with awe, rejoice to be;
My conscious soul resumes her power,
And springs, my guardian God, to thee.
3 O, guide me through the various maze
My doubtful feet are doomed to tread,
And spread thy shield's protecting blaze
Where dangers press around my head.
4 A deeper shade shall soon impend,
A deeper sleep my eyes oppress;
Yet then thy strength shall still defend,
Thy goodness still delight to bless.
5 That deeper shade shall break away;
That deeper sleep shall leave my eyes;
Thy light shall give eternal day;
Thy love, the rapture of the skies.
Acknowledging God's Hand. Morning.
1 WHAT secret hand, at morning light,
Softly unseals mine eye,
Draws back the curtain of the night,
And opens earth and sky?
2 'Tis thine, my God - the same that kept
My resting hours from harm;
No ill came nigh me, for I slept
Beneath th' Almighty's arm.
3 'Tis thine-my daily bread that brings,
Like manna scattered round,
And clothes me, as the lily springs
In beauty from the ground.
4 In death's dark valley though I stray, 'Twould there my steps attend, Guide with the staff my lonely way, And with the rod defend.
5 May that sure hand uphold me still
Through life's uncertain race,
To bring me to thine holy hill,
And to thy dwelling-place.
1 MY GOD, accept my early vows,
Like morning incense in thy house;
And let my nightly worship rise,
Sweet as the evening sacrifice.
2 Watch o'er my lips, and guard them, Lord, From every rash and heedless word;
Nor let my feet incline to tread
The guilty path where sinners lead.
1 As every day thy mercy spares
Will bring its trials or its cares,
O Father, till my life shall end,
Be thou my Counsellor and Friend;
Teach me thy statutes all divine,
And let thy will be always mine.
2 When each day's scenes and labors close,
And wearied nature seeks repose,
With pardoning mercy richly blest,
Guard me, my Father, while I rest;
And as each morning sun shall rise,
O, lead me onward to the skies.
3 And at my life's last setting sun,
My conflicts o'er, my labors done,
Father, thine 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.
Morning or Evening Song.
1 MY GOD, how endless is thy love!
Thy gifts are every evening new;
And morning mercies, from above,
Gently distil like early dew.
2 Thou spread'st the curtains of the night,
Great Guardian of my sleeping hours;
Thy sovereign word restores the light,
And quickens all my drowsy powers.
3 I yield my powers to thy command;
To thee I consecrate my days;
Perpetual blessings from thine hand
Demand perpetual songs of praise.
1 IN mercy, Lord, remember me,
This instant passing night,
And grant to me most graciously
The safeguard of thy might.
2 With cheerful heart I close my eyes, Since thou wilt not remove;
O, in the morning let me rise,
Rejoicing in thy love.
3 Or if this night should prove the last, And end my transient days,
Lord, take me to thy promised rest,
Where I may sing thy praise.
4 Thus I am sure to live or die
To thee, the God of love;
In life and death I do rely
On thee, who reign'st above.
1 THOU, whose favors without number
All our days with gladness bless,
Let thine eye, that knows not slumber,
Guard our hours of helplessness.
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