2 To the bride, beyond her beauty,
Give her still Thy grace to know :
To the bridegroom, for her portion,
On her heavenly gifts bestow.
So their bridal gifts shall never
Fade, as earthly things decay,
But the bride and bridegroom ever
Dwell with Thee in endless day.

7 6s.

J. KEBLE.

1222 A threefold cord is not quickly broken.

I

TH

Eccl. iv. 12.

HE 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 For dower of blessed children,
For love and faith's sweet sake,
For high mysterious union

Which nought on earth may break;
4 Be present, awful Father,
To give away this bride,
As Eve Thou gav'st to Adam
Out of his own pierced side;

5 Be present, Son of Mary,

To join their loving hands,
As Thou didst bind two natures
In Thine eternal bands;

6 Be present, Holiest Spirit,

To bless them as they kneel,
As Thou for Christ, the Bridegroom,
The heavenly spouse dost seal.

7 O spread Thy pure wing o'er them,
Let no ill power find place,
When onward through life's journey
The hallowed path they trace,

8 To cast their crowns before Thee,
In perfect sacrifice,

Till to the home of gladness

With Christ's own Bride they rise.

76, 76, 76, 76. [J. S. B. MONSELL.*]

1223 God is love; and he that dwelleth in love

dwelleth in God, and God in him.
I John iv. 16.

LOVE divine and golden,
Mysterious depth and height!
To Thee the world beholden,
Looks up for life and light:
O Love divine and gentle,

The Blesser and the blest!
Beneath Thy care parental

The world lies down in rest.

2 O Love divine and tender,

That through our homes dost move,
Veiled in the softened splendour
Of holy household love,
A throne without Thy blessing,
Were labour without rest,
And cottages, possessing

Thy blessedness, are blest.

3 Bless Thou those hands united;
Bless Thou these hearts made one;
Unsevered and unblighted

May they through life go on:
Here in earth's home preparing

For brighter scenes above;

And there for ever sharing
Thy home of perfect love.

FOR A FAMILY.

87
3 75.

C. WESLEY.*

1224 If the house be worthy, let your peace come

I

PEAC

upon it.—Matthew x. 13.

EACE be to this habitation,
Peace to all that dwell herein ;
Peace, the earnest of salvation,

Peace, the fruit of pardoned sin ;
Peace, that speaks the heavenly Giver;
Peace to earthly minds unknown;
Peace divine, that lasts for ever,

Peace that comes from God alone.
2 Prince of peace, be ever near us;
Fix in all our hearts Thy home;
With Thy gracious presence cheer us;
Let Thy sacred kingdom come.
Raise to heaven our expectation;
Give our raptured souls to prove
Glorious and complete salvation,
In the realms of bliss above.

1225 God shall wipe away all tears from their

65,65,66,5. [ALARIC A. WATTS.]

I

eyes.-Revelation vii. 17.

WHEN shall we meet again,
Meet ne'er to sever?

WH

When will peace wreathe her chain
Round us for ever?

Our hearts will ne'er repose,

Safe from each blast that blows,
In this dark vale of woes;

Never, no never.

2 When shall love freely flow
Pure as life's river ?
When shall sweet friendship glow
Changeless for ever?

When joys celestial thrill,
When bliss each heart shall fill,
And fears of parting chill,
Never, no never.

3 Up to that world of light
Take us, dear Saviour;

May we all there unite,
Happy for ever.

Where kindred spirits dwell,
There may our music swell,
And time our joys dispel,
Never, no never.

4 Soon shall we meet again,
Meet ne'er to sever;

Soon shall peace wreathe her chain
Round us for ever.

Our hearts will then repose,

Secure from earthly woes;

Our song of praise shall close,

Never, no never.

C.M.

DODDRIDGE.*

1226 The Lord blessed the house.-1 Chron. xiii. 14.

I

SHI

HINE on our souls, eternal God,
With rays of beauty shine;

Oh, let Thy favour crown our days,
And all their round be Thine.

2 With Thee let every week begin;
With Thee each day be spent ;
For Thee each fleeting hour improved,
Since each by Thee is lent.

3 Thus cheer us through the desert road,
Till all our labours cease,
And heaven refresh our weary souls
With everlasting peace.

1227

I

S

L.M.

H. ALFORD.

The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tabernacles of the righteous.—Ps. cxviii. 15.

AVIOUR of them that trust in Thee,
Once more with supplicating cries,
We lift the heart, and bend the knee,

And bid devotion's incense rise.

2 For mercies past we praise Thee, Lord, The fruits of earth, the hopes of heaven; Thy helping arm, Thy guiding word,

And answered prayers, and sins forgiven. 3 Whene'er we tread on danger's height, Or walk temptation's slippery way, Be still, to steer our steps aright,

Thy word our guide, Thine arm our stay.

4 Be ours Thy fear and favour still,
United hearts, unchanging love;
No scheme that contradicts Thy will,
No wish that centres not above.

5 And since we must be parted here,
Support us when the hour shall come;
Wipe gently off the mourner's tear,
Re-join us in our heavenly home.

C.M.

1228 Shew piety at home.—1 Tim. v. 4.

1 HAP

I APPY the home when God is there,
And love fills every breast;
Where one their wish, and one their prayer,