5 Only God's free gifts abuse not,
Light refuse not,
But His Spirit's voice obey;
Thou with Him shalt dwell, beholding
Light enfolding
All things in unclouded day.
VERY morning mercies new
Fall as fresh as morning dew;
Every morning let us pay
Tribute with the early day:
For Thy mercies, Lord, are sure;
Thy compassion doth endure.
2 Still the greatness of Thy love
Daily doth our sins remove;
Daily, far as east from west,
Lifts the burden from the breast;
Gives unbought, to those who pray,
Strength to stand in evil day.
3 Let our prayers each morn prevail,
That these gifts may never fail ;
And, as we confess the sin
And the tempter's power within,
Feed us with the Bread of Life ;
Fit us for our daily strife.
4 As the morning light returns,
As the sun with splendor burns,
Teach us still to turn to Thee,
Ever blessed Trinity,
With our hands our hearts to raise,
In unfailing prayer and praise.
JESU, crucified for man,
O Lamb, all glorious on Thy throne,
Teach Thou our wondering souls to scan
The mystery of Thy love unknown.
2 We pray Thee, grant us strength to take
Our daily cross, whate'er it be,
And gladly for Thine own dear sake
In paths of pain to follow Thee.
3 As on our daily way we go,
Through light or shade, in calm or strife,
Oh! may we bear Thy marks below
In conquered sin and chastened life.
4 And week by week this day we ask
That holy memories of Thy cross
May sanctify each common task,
And turn to gain each earthly loss.
5 Grant us, dear Lord, our cross to bear Till at Thy feet we lay it down,
Win through Thy blood our pardon there,
And through the cross attain the crown.
312 Christ, Whose glory fills the skies.
383 Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.
640 My Father, for another night.
BRIGHTNESS of the immortal Father's face,
Most holy, heavenly, blest,
Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom His truth and grace
Are visibly expressed:
2 The sun is sinking now, and one by one
The lamps of evening shine:
We hymn the eternal Father, and the Son,
And Holy Ghost divine.
3 Worthy art Thou at all times to receive
Our hallowed praises, Lord:
O Son of God, be Thou, in Whom we live,
Through all the world adored.
HE day is gently sinking to a close,
Fainter and yet more faint the sunlight glows:
O Brightness of Thy Father's glory, Thou
Eternal Light of Light, be with us now:
Where Thou art present darkness cannot be;
Midnight is glorious noon, O Lord, with Thee.
2 Our changeful lives are ebbing to an end :
Onward to darkness and to death we tend :
O Conqueror of the grave, be Thou our guide,
Be Thou our light in death's dark eventide ;
Then in our mortal hour will be no gloom,
No sting in death, no terror in the tomb.
3 Thou, Who in darkness walking didst appear
Upon the waves, and Thy disciples cheer,
Come, Lord, in lonesome days, when storms assail,
And earthly hopes and human succors fail :
When all is dark may we behold Thee nigh,
And hear Thy voice-"Fear not, for it is I.”
4 The weary world is mouldering to decay,
Its glories wane, its pageants fade away;
In that last sunset when the stars shall fall,
May we arise awakened by Thy call,
With Thee, O Lord, forever to abide
that blest day which has no eventide.
THE radiant morn hath passed away,
And spent too soon her golden store ;
The shadows of departing day
Creep on once more.
2 Our life is but a fading dawn,
Its glorious noon, how quickly past;
Lead us, O Christ, our life-work done,
Safe home at last.
3 Oh, by Thy soul-inspiring grace
Uplift our hearts to realms on high;
Help us to look to that bright place
Beyond the sky,
4 Where light, and life, and joy, and peace
In undivided empire reign,
And thronging angels never cease
Their deathless strain;
5 Where saints are clothed in spotless white,
And evening shadows never fall,
Where Thou, eternal Light of Light,
Art Lord of all.
OLY Father, cheer our way
With Thy love's perpetual ray :
Grant us every closing day
Light at evening-time.
2 Holy Saviour, calm our fears
When earth's brightness disappears:
Grant us in our later years
Light at evening-time.
3 Holy Spirit, be Thou nigh
When in mortal pains we lie;
Grant us, as we come to die,
Light at evening-time.
4 Holy, blessed Trinity,
Darkness is not dark to Thee:
Those Thou keepest always see
Light at evening-time.
THE sun is sinking fast,
The daylight dies;
Let love awake, and pay
Her evening sacrifice.
2 As Christ upon the cross
His head inclined,
And to His Father's hands
His parting soul resigned;
3 So now herself my soul
Would wholly give
Into His sacred charge,
In Whom all spirits live;
4 So now beneath His eye
Would calmly rest,
Without a wish or thought
Abiding in the breast;
5 Save that His will be done,
Whate'er betide;
Dead to herself, and dead
In Him to all beside.
6 Thus would I live: yet now
Not I, but He,
In all His power and love,
Henceforth alive in me.
7 One sacred Trinity,
One Lord divine,
May I be ever His,
And He forever mine.
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