In strains of grief of no avail,
Their early follies they bewail!
Then seek for grace from Christ the Lord,
'Tis this alone can peace afford.
A CHAMBER HYMN.
WHAT though my frail eyelids refuse.
Continual watchings to keep,
And punctual as midnight renews,
Demand the refreshment of sleep.
A sovereign protector I have,
Unseen, yet for ever at hand,
Unchangeably faithful to save,
Almighty to rule and command.
Inspirer and hearer of pray'r!
Thou keeper and guardian of thine!
My all to thy covenant care
I sleeping and waking resign.
If thou art my shield and my sun,
The night is no darkness to me:
And fast as the moments roll on,
They bring me but nearer to thee.
AWAKE my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run;
Shake off dull sloth and early rise,
To pay thy morning sacrifice.
Let all thy converse be sincere,
Thy conscience, as the noon-day clear;
For God's all-seeing eye surveys
Thy secret thoughts thy works, and ways.
Glory to Thee! who safe has kept,
And hast refresh'd me while I slept:
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake,
I may of endless life partake.
Direct, controul, suggest, this day,
All I design, or do, or say;
That all my pow'rs with all their might,
In thy sole glory may unite.
GLORY to thee, my God, this night,
For all the blessings of the light;
Keep me, O keep me, king of kings,
Under thy own almighty wings!
Forgive me Lord, for thy dear son,
The ills that I this day have done;
That with the world, myself, and thee,
I e'er I sleep, at peace may be.
Teach me to live, that I may
The grave as little as my
Teach me to die, that so I may
With joy behold the judgment day.
O may my soul on thee repose,
And with sweet sleep mine eyelids close,
Sleep, that may me more active make
To serve my God when I awake.
NIGHT is the time to muse;
There from the eye, the soul
Takes flight; and with expanding views,
Beyond the starry pole,
Descries athwart the abyss of night,
The dawn of uncreated light.
Night is the time to pray,
Our Saviour oft withdrew
To desert mountains far
away;
So will his followers do,-
Steal from the throng to haunts untrod,
And hold communion there with GOD.
Night is the time for death,-
When all around is peace,
Calmly to yield the weary breath,
From sin and suffering cease,
Think of heaven's bliss, and give the sign
To parting friends; -such death be mine!
How shall I begin this day,
my Maker I will pray,—
Of Him ask for love and grace,
To Him give my feeble praise:
He hath watch'd me through the night,
He hath giv'n the morning light;
Blessings numberless I share,
Few can with my lot compare!
No. 306.] THREE QUESTIONS (contiuued). [Friday.
How can I this new day spend?
To my books I will attend;
To Parents and to Teachers, pay
Glad obedience thro' the day;
Time, I will not dare to squander,
Nor from duty will I wander;
Every day shall thus increase,
Stores of knowledge,-fruits of peace!
How shall I finish ther this day ?
For days, yea years, soon pass away!
Then shall I end the day with joy,
Thanks and prayer once more employ
My lips and heart, for all I have,
And all the blessings which I crave:
Thus end my day,—and thus to rest
May I retire,-thus doubly blest:
Blest in the past, in heaven's smile,
And in the hopes which life beguile;
Thro' days and weeks, and months and years
"Till immortality appears!
WHEN restless on my bed I lie,
Still courting sleep, which still doth fly,
Then shall reflection's brighter pow'r
Illuminate the midnight hour.
|