5.

C. M. DODDRIDGE.

Secret Prayer. Morning or Evening. 1 FATHER divine, thy piercing eye

Shoots through the darkest night;
In deep retirement thou art nigh,
With heart discerning sight.

2 There shall that piercing eye survey
My duteous homage paid,
With every morning's dawning ray,
And every evening's shade.

30 may thy own celestial fire
The incense still inflame,
While my warm vows to thee aspire
Through my Redeemer's name.

4 So shall the visits of thy love
My soul in secret bless;

So shalt thou deign in worlds above
Thy suppliant to confess.

1 LORD, as the evening shades arise,
And chase the twilight from the skies,
Thy wondrous bounty may we find,
And share it with a grateful mind.
2 O make our weary members blest,
With sweet refreshment in their rest,
And in the hours of darkness spread
Thy guardian arms around our head.
3 Upon our knees, as here we bow,
We pray the Lord of glory now
To fill our breasts, lest deadly sin
Should cause a darker night within.

4 If thoughts on thee our souls employ
E'en darkness will afford us joy;

Till thou shalt call, and we shall soar,
And part with darkness evermore.

1 LORD, thou wilt hear me when I pray,

I am forever thine;

I fear before thee all the day,
Nor would I dare to sin.

2 And while I rest my weary head,
From cares and business free,
'Tis sweet conversing on my bed
With my own heart and thee.

3 I pay this evening sacrifice;
And when my work is done,
Great God, my faith and hope relies
Upon thy grace alone.

4 Thus with my thoughts composed to peace, I'll give mine eyes to sleep;

Thy hand in safety keeps my days,
And will my slumbers keep.

1 MIGHTY God! another day
Me hath sped along my way;
Nearer to my grave I've come,
Nearer to my endless home.

2 Thanks for life's extended length,
For continued health and strength,
Food and raiment, sun and air,
Still provided by thy care;

3 Powers of soul and body still
Guarded from each threatening ill,
Friends to love, and good to do,
Truth to seek, and heaven pursue.
4 Gracious God! my thanks sincere
Kindly stoop thee down to hear;
Bid them gush full, warm, and free,
From a spirit filled with Thee!

5 Round me close the shades of night,
Gird me with thy presence bright;
Darkness comes not where Thou art,
Dwell Thou ever in my heart!

9.

C. M. W. L. BOWLES.

Starlight Frost.

1 THE stars are shining over head, In the clear frosty night;

So will they shine when we are dead,
As countless and as bright.

2 For brief the time and short the space
That e'en the proudest have,

Ere they conclude their various race
In silence and the grave.

3 But the pure soul from dust shall rise
By our great Saviour's aid,

When the last trump shall rend the skies,
And all the stars shall fade.

1 WHEN restless on my bed I lie,
Still courting sleep, which still will fly,
Then shall reflection's brighter power
Illume the lone and midnight hour.

2 If hushed the breeze and calm the tide,
Soft will the stream of memory glide,
And all the past, a gentle train,
Waked by remembrance, live again.

3 Perhaps that anxious friend I trace,
Beloved till life's last throb shall cease,
Whose voice first taught a Saviour's truth,
A future bliss unknown on earth.

4 His faithful counsel, tender care,
Unwearied love, and humble prayer,
O these still claim the grateful tear,
And all my drooping courage cheer.
5 If loud the wind, the tempest high,
And darkness wraps the sullen sky,
I muse on life's tempestuous sea,
And sigh, O Lord, to come to thee.

6 Tossed on the deep and swelling wave,
O mark my trembling soul, and save;
Give to my mind that harbour near,
Where thou wilt chase each grief and fear.

11.

L. M.

PIERPONT.

Evening Hymn. For a Child. 1 ANOTHER day its course hath run, And still, O God, thy child is blest;

For thou hast been by day my sun,
And thou wilt be by night my rest.

2 Sweet sleep descends, my eyes to close;
And now when all the world is still,
I give my body to repose,
My spirit to my Father's will.

12. L. M. / BP. KENN.
Midnight.

1 My God, I now from sleep awake,
The sole possession of me take ;
From midnight terrors me secure,
And guard my heart from thoughts impure.
2 Blest angels, while we silent lie,
You Hallelujahs sing on high;
You joyful hymn the Ever-blest,
Before the throne, and never rest.

3 I with your choir celestial join,
In offering up a hymn divine;
With you in heaven I hope to dwell,
And bid the night and world farewell.

4 O may I always ready stand,
With my lamp burning in my hand;
May I in sight of heaven rejoice,
Whene'er I hear the Bridegroom's voice.

5 Blest Jesus, thou on heaven intent,
Whole nights hast in devotion spent ;
But I, frail creature, soon am tired
And all my zeal is soon expired.

6 Shine on me, Lord, new life impart
Fresh ardours kindle in my heart;
One ray of thy all quickening light
Dispels the sloth and clouds of night.

ATTRIBUTES AND PROVIDENCE OF GOD.

13.

L. M.

WATTS.

God Invisible.

1 LORD, we are blind, poor mortals, blind,
We can't behold thy bright abode;
O! 'tis beyond a creature's mind
To glance a thought half way to God.

2 Infinite leagues beyond the sky,
The great Eternal reigns alone,
Where neither wings, nor souls can fly,
Nor angels climb the topless throne.

3 The Lord of glory builds his seat
Of gems incomparably bright:
And lays beneath his sacred feet
Substantial beams of gloomy night.

4 Yet, glorious Lord, thy gracious eyes
Look through, and cheer us from above;
Beyond our praise thy grandeur flies,
Yet we adore, and yet we love.

14. L. M.

Omnipresence.

MME. GUION.

1 0 THOU by long experience tried,
Near whom no grief can long abide,
My Lord, how full of sweet content,
I pass my years of banishment.

2 All scenes alike engaging prove

To souls impressed with sacred love;
Where'er they dwell, they dwell in thee,
In heaven, in earth, or on the sea.

3 To me remains nor place nor time;
My country is in every clime;
I can be calm, and free from care,
On any shore, since God is there.

4 While place we seek, or place we shun,
The soul finds happiness in none;
But with a God to guide our way,
"Tis equal joy to go or stay.

5 Could I be cast where thou art not,
That were indeed a dreadful lot;
But regions none remote I call,
Secure of finding God in all.

Justice and Mercy of God. - Ps. 36.

1 WHILE men grow bold in wicked ways, And yet a God they own,

My heart within me often says,

"Their thoughts believe there's none.'