When wilt thou come unto me?-Ps. ci. 2.
1 COME to me, Lord, when first I wake,
As the faint lights of morning break;
Bid purest thoughts within me rise,
Like crystal dew-drops to the skies.
2 Come to me in the sultry noon,
Or earth's low communings will soon
Of thy dear face eclipse the light,
And change my fairest day to night.
3 Come to me in the evening shade,
And, if my heart from thee hath stray'd,
Oh, bring it back, and from afar
Smile on me like thine evening star.
4 Come to me in the midnight hour,
When sleep withholds its balmy power;
Let my lone spirit find her rest,
Like John, upon my Saviour's breast.
5 Come to me through life's varied way,
And when its pulses cease to play,
Then, Saviour, bid me come to thee,
That where thou art, thy child may be."
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray. [S.M.
Ps. lv. 17.
COME to the morning prayer,
Come let us kneel and pray;
Prayer is the Christian pilgrim's staff,
To walk with God all day.
At noon beneath the Rock
Sweet is the shadow from the heat,
When the sun smites by day.
At eve shut to the door,
Round the home-altar pray,
And finding there the house of God,
At heaven's gate close the day
When midnight seals our eyes,
Let each in spirit say,
I sleep, but my heart waketh, Lord,
With thee to watch and pray.
The hour of prayer.-Acts iii. 1.
1 My God, is any hour so sweet,
From blush of morn to evening star,
As that which calls me to thy feet,-
The hour of prayer?
2 Blest be that tranquil hour of morn,
And blest that hour of solemn eve,
When, on the wings of prayer upborne,
The world I leave.
3 For then a day-spring shines on me,
Brighter than morn's ethereal glow;
And richer dews descend from thee
Than earth can know.
4. Then is my strength by thee renew'd;
Then are my sins by thee forgiven;
Then dost thou cheer my solitude
With hopes of heaven.
5 No words can tell what blest relief,
There for my every want I find;
What strength for warfare, balm for grief;
What peace of mind.
6 Hush'd is each doubt; gone every fear;
My spirit seems in heaven to stay;
And even the penitential tear
Is wiped away.
7 Lord, till I reach yon blissful shore,
No privilege so dear shall be,
As thus my inmost soul to pour
In prayer to thee."
12 Walk before me, and be thou perfect.---Gen. xvii. 1. [L.M.
1 FORTH in thy name, O Lord, I go
My daily labour to pursue;
Thee, only thee, resolved to know,
In all I think, or speak, or do.
2 The task thy wisdom hath assign'd O let me cheerfully fulfil;
In all my works thy presence find,
And prove thy good and perfect will.
3 Thee may I set at my right hand,
Whose eyes my inmost substance see;
And labour on at thy command,
And offer all my works to thee.
4 Give me to bear thy easy yoke,
And every moment watch and pray;
And still to things eternal look,
And hasten to thy glorious day.
5 For thee delightfully employ
Whate'er thy bounteous grace hath given; And run my course with even joy,
And closely walk with thee to heaven."
"LIGHTEN OUR DARKNESS, WE BESEECH THEE,
O LORD."
Abide with us; for the day is far spent.
1 ABIDE with me: fast falls the eventide ;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide:
When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, O abide with me.
2 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.
3 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.
4 I need thy presence every passing hour:
What but thy grace can foil the tempter's power?
3 Like the sun's reviving ray,
May thy love with tender glow
All our coldness melt away,
Warm and cheer us forth to go,
Gladly serve thee and obey
All the day.
4 Oh, our only Hope and Guide,
Never leave us nor forsake;
Keep us ever at thy side.
Till the eternal morning break
Moving on to Zion's hill,
Homeward still.
5 Lead us all our days and years
In thy strait and narrow way;
Lead us through the vale of tears
To the land of perfect day,
Where thy people, fully blest,
Safely rest. Amen.
The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar.
Lev. vi. 13.
1 0 THOU, who camest from above
The pure celestial fire to impart,
Kindle a flame of sacred love
On the mean altar of my heart. 2 There let it for thy glory burn
Unquench'd, undimm'd in darkest days,
And trembling to its source return
In humble prayer and fervent praise.
3 Jesu, confirm my heart's desire
To work, and speak, and think for thee;
Still let me guard the holy fire,
And still stir up thy gift in me:
4 Ready for all thy perfect will,
My acts of faith and love repeat;
Till death thy endless mercy seal,
And make the sacrifice complete."
When wilt thou come unto me?-Ps. ci. 2.
1 COME to me, Lord, when first I wake,
As the faint lights of morning break;
Bid purest thoughts within me rise,
Like crystal dew-drops to the skies.
2 Come to me in the sultry noon,
Or earth's low communings will soon.
Of thy dear face eclipse the light,
And change my fairest day to night.
3 Come to me in the evening shade,
And, if my heart from thee hath stray'd,
Oh, bring it back, and from afar
Smile on me like thine evening star.
4 Come to me in the midnight hour,
When sleep withholds its balmy power;
Let my lone spirit find her rest,
Like John, upon my Saviour's breast.
5 Come to me through life's varied way,
And when its pulses cease to play,
Then, Saviour, bid me come to thee,
That where thou art, thy child may be."
10 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray. [S.M.
1 COME to the morning prayer,
Come let us kneel and pray;
Prayer is the Christian pilgrim's staff,
To walk with God all day.
At noon beneath the Rock
Of ages rest and
Sweet is the shadow from the heat,
When the sun smites by day.
At eve shut to the door,
Round the home-altar pray,
And finding there the house of God,
At heaven's gate close the day
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