And let me never, never stray
From happiness and thee.
For Guardianship and Guidance.
1 O THOU, to whose all-searching sight The darkness shineth as the light,
Search, prove my heart; it pants for thee;
O, burst these bonds, and set it free!
2 If in this darksome wild I stray,
Be thou my light, be thou my way;
No foes, no violence, I fear,
No fraud, while thou, my God, art near.
3 When rising floods my soul o'erflow,
When sinks my heart in waves of woe,
O God, thy timely aid impart,
And raise my head and cheer my heart.
4 If rough and thorny be the way,
My strength proportion to my day;
Till toil, and grief, and pain, shall cease,
Where all is calm, and joy, and peace.
Prayer for quickening Grace.
1 MY soul lies cleaving to the dust;
Lord, give me life divine;
From vain desires, and every lust,
Turn off these eyes of mine.
2 I need the influence of thy grace
To speed me in thy way,
Lest I should loiter in my race,
Or turn my feet astray.
3 Are not thy mercies sovereign still,
And thou a faithful God?
Wilt thou not grant me warmer zeal
To run the heavenly road?
4 Does not my heart thy precepts love,
And long to see thy face?
And yet how slow my spirits move
Without enlivening grace!
5 Then shall I love thy gospel more,
And ne'er forget thy word,
When I have felt its quickening power
To draw me near the Lord.
Divine Light and Guidance implored.
1 O SOURCE of uncreated light,
By whom the worlds were raised from night,
Come, visit every pious mind;
Come, pour thy joys on human kind.
2 Plenteous in grace, descend from high,
Rich in thy matchless energy:
From sin and sorrow set us free,
And make us temples worthy thee.
3 Cleanse and refine our earthly parts,
Inflame and sanctify our hearts,
Our frailties help, our vice control,
Submit the senses to the soul.
4 Thrice holy Fount! thrice holy Fire!
Our hearts with heavenly love inspire ;
Make us eternal truths receive,
Aid us to live as we believe.
5 Chase from our path each noxious foe,
And peace, the fruit of love, bestow;
And, lest our feet should step astray,
Protect and guide us in our way.
1 THINE influence, mighty God! is felt
Through nature's ample round;
In heaven, on earth, through air and skies,
Thy energy is found.
2 Thy sacred influence, Lord! we need
To form our hearts anew;
O, cleanse our souls from every sin,
And thy salvation show!
3 Father of light! thine aid impart
To guide our doubtful way;
Thy truth shall scatter every cloud,
And make a glorious day.
4 Supported by thy heavenly grace,
We'll do and bear thy will;
That grace shall make each burden light,
And every murmur still.
5 Cheered by thy smiles, we 'll fearless tread The gloomy path of death;
And, with the hopes of endless bliss,
To thee resign our breath.
Heavenly Wisdom implored through the Perils of Life.
1 FATHER of light! conduct my feet
Through life's dark, dangerous road;
Let each advancing step still bring
Me nearer to my God.
2 Let heaven-eyed prudence be my guide,
And, when I go astray,
Recall my feet from folly's path
To wisdom's better way.
3 Teach me in every various scene
To keep my end in sight
And, while I tread life's mazy track,
Let wisdom guide me right.
4 That heavenly wisdom from above
Abundantly impart ;
And let it guard, and guide, and warm,
And penetrate my heart;
5 Till it shall lead me to thyself,
Fountain of bliss and love!
And all my darkness be dispersed
In endless light above.
God our Portion on Earth and in Heaven.
1 WHOM have we, Lord, in heaven but thee, And whom on earth beside ? Where else for succour can we flee,
Or in whose strength confide?
2 Thou art our portion here below,
Our promised bliss above;
Ne'er may our souls an object know
So precious as thy love.
3 Thou, Lord, wilt be our guide through life,
And help and strength supply;
Sustain us in death's fearful strife,
And welcome us on high.
The Voice of God in the Heart.
1 HATH not thy heart within thee burned At evening's calm and holy hour,
As if its inmost depths discerned
2 Hast thou not heard 'mid forest glades,
While ancient rivers murmured by,
A voice from forth th' eternal shades,
That spake a present Deity?
3 And as, upon the sacred page,
Thine eye in rapt attention turned
O'er records of a holier age,
Hath not thy heart within thee burned?
4 It was the voice of God that spake
In silence to thy silent heart;
And bade each worthier thought awake,
And every dream of earth depart.
5 Voice of our God, O, yet be near !
In low, sweet accents whisper peace ;
Direct us on our pathway here,
Then bid in heaven our wanderings cease.
1 ETERNAL God, thou Light divine,
Fountain of unexhausted love,
O, let thy glories on me shine,
In earth beneath, from heaven above.
2 Thou art the weary wanderer's rest,
Give me the easy yoke to bear;
With steadfast patience arm my breast,
With spotless love and lowly fear.
3 Be thou, O Rock of Ages, nigh!
So shall each murmuring thought be gone;
And grief, and fear, and care shall fly,
As clouds before the mid-day sun.
4 Speak to my warring passions, "Peace";
Say to my trembling heart, "Be still ";
Thy power my strength and fortress is,
For all things serve thy holy will.
1 WHAT is this that stirs within,
Loving goodness, hating sin,
Always craving to be blest,
Finding here below no rest?
2 Naught that charms the ear or eye
Can its hunger satisfy;
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