“ Christian Farewell.
1 Thy presence, ever living God!
Wide through all nature spreads abroad;
Thy watchful eyes, which never sleep,
In every place Thy children keep.
2 While near each other we remain,
Thou dost our lives and powers sustain;
When separate, we rejoice to share
Thy counsels, and Thy gracious care.
3 To Thee we now commit our ways,
And still implore Thy heavenly grace;
Still cause Thy face on us to shine,
And guard and guide us still as Thine.
4 Give us within Thy house to raise
Again united songs of praise;
Or, if that joy no more be known,
Give us to meet around Thy throne. ”

“ Prayer of a Lowly Spirit.
1 From the recesses of a lowly spirit,
Our humble prayer ascends; O Father! hear it,
Upsoaring on the wings of awe and meekness;
Forgive its weakness!
2 We see Thy hand; it leads us, it supports us:
We hear Thy voice; it counsels and it courts us:
And then we turn away; and still Thy kindness
Forgives our blindness.
3 O how long-suffering, Lord! but Thou delightest
To win with love the wandering; Thou invitest,
By smiles of mercy, not by frowns or terrors,
Man from his errors.
4 Father and Saviour! plant within each bosom
The seeds of holiness ”

“ Christ Present in the Spirit.
1 O, What though our feet may not tread where Christ trod,
Nor our ears hear the dashing of Galilee’s flood,
Nor our eyes see the cross that he bowed him to bear,
Nor our knees press Gethsemane’s garden of prayer!
2 Yet, Loved of the Father! thy spirit is near
To the meek and the lowly and penitent here;
And the voice of thy love is the same, even now,
As at Bethany’s tomb, or on Olivet’s brow.
3 O, the Outward has gone, but in glory and power
The Spirit surviveth the things of an hour ”

“ May Calvary’s cross to us be shown;
But may we turn, in many an hour,
To feel its soul-constraining power.
2 When indolence would have its will,
And selfish ease would keep us still,
Then to the Saviour may we look,
And meet his eye’s serene rebuke.
3 When men have done us cruel wrong,
And angry thoughts are rising strong,
May we with softened hearts turn there,
And learn the Lord’s forgiving prayer.
4 When sin looks tempting in our eyes,
May Jesus on the cross arise,
And ask if we will him forsake,
And wear the chains he died to break. ”

“ The Hope of Man.
1 The Past is dark with sin and shame,
The Future dim with doubt and fear;
But, Father, yet we praise Thy name,
Whose guardian love is always near.
2 For man has striven, ages long,
With faltering steps to come to Thee,
And in each purpose high and strong
The influence of Thy grace could see.
3 He could not breathe an earnest prayer,
But Thou wast kinder than he dreamed,
As age by age brought hopes more fair,
And nearer still Thy kingdom seemed.
4 But never rose within his breast
A trust so calm and deep as now;—
Shall not the weary find a rest? ”

“ And fervent was his prayer,
For he, with safety full in view,
Still languished helpless there.
2 His hope grew dim; but one was nigh
Who saw the sufferer’s grief;
That gentle voice, that pitying eye,
Gave promise of relief.
Each pang that human weakness knows
Obeyed that powerful word;
He spake, and lo! the sick arose,
Rejoicing in his Lord.
3 Father of Jesus, when oppressed
With grief and pain we lie,
And, longing for Thy heavenly rest,
Despair to look on high,
O, may the Saviour’s words of peace
Within the wounded heart
Bid every doubt and suffering cease,
And strength and joy impart! ”

“ Thy face we seek:
Grant us that blessed peace to share,
Known to the pure and meek.
[33]
2 Come then to holy prayer,
Souls that seem lost in night;
Leave to the Lord your heavy care,
Who giveth life and light.
3 Come with a trusting prayer,
Though fears press down your souls;
The Saviour’s promise, “I am there,”
Each saddening fear controls.
4 Here, in this place of prayer,
Let hearts in union meet:
Come, cast the load you cannot bear
Low at the Saviour’s feet.
5 Then from this house of prayer
Shall mingling praise be given,
And angels, ’mid the holy air,
Shall bear the notes to heaven. ”

“ Since God was thy refuge, thy guardian, thy guide;
He gave thee, He took thee, and He will restore thee;
And death has no sting, since the Saviour hath died.
410. C. M.
Mrs. Hemans.
Death of the Young.
1 Calm on the bosom of thy God,
Fair spirit, rest thee now!
E’en while with us thy footstep trod,
His seal was on thy brow.
2 Dust, to its narrow house beneath!
Soul, to its home on high!
They that have seen thy look in death
No more may fear to die.
3 Lone are the paths, and sad the hours,
Since thy meek spirit’s gone;
But, O, a brighter home than ours,
In heaven, is now thine own! ”

“ Thy Kingdom Come!
1 “Thy kingdom come!” The heathen lands,
In error sunk, Thy presence crave;
And victims bound by tyrant hands
Implore Thee, Father, come and save!
2 “Thy kingdom come!” Each troubled mind
In doubt and darkness calls for Thee;
For Thou hast eyes to give the blind,
And strength to set the captive free.
3 Thy reign of peace and love begin!
Too oft the Christian’s sacred name
Is stained by wrath and shamed by sin;
O, come, assert the gospel’s claim!
4 O, never in that righteous cause
Our hearts be slow, our voices dumb ”

“ Prayer for Strength.
1 Father, to us Thy children, humbly kneeling,
Conscious of weakness, ignorance, sin and shame,
Give such a force of holy thought and feeling,
That we may live to glorify Thy name:
2 That we may conquer base desire and passion
That we may rise from selfish thought and will,
O’ercome the world’s allurement, threat, and fashion,
Walk humbly, gently, leaning on Thee still.
[57]
3 Let all Thy goodness by our minds be seen,
Let all Thy mercy on our souls be sealed,
Lord, if Thou wilt, Thy power can make us clean,
O, speak the word! Thy servants shall be healed. ”

“ Resplendent in glory, to live and to save.
Loud was the chorus of angels on high,—
“The Saviour hath risen, and man shall not die.”
2 Glory to God, in full anthems of joy;
The being he gave us death cannot destroy.
Sad were the life we must part with to-morrow,
If tears were our birthright, and death were our end;
But Jesus hath cheered the dark valley of sorrow,
And bade us, immortal, to heaven ascend.
Lift, then, your voices in triumph on high,
For Jesus hath risen, and man shall not die. ”

“ Prayer then be turned into praise!
Shout to the valleys, Behold ye the morn,
Long, long desired, but denied to our sight;
Lo, myriads of slaves into men are new-born;
The word was omnipotent, and there is light!
441. L. M.
*Whittier.
Mercy and Not Sacrifice.
1 O Thou, at whose rebuke, the grave
Back to warm life the sleeper gave,
Who, waking, saw with joy, above,
A brother’s face of tenderest love;—
2 Thou, unto whom the blind and lame,
The sorrowing, and the sin-sick came;
The burden of thy holy faith
Was love and life, not hate and death. ”

“ How Amiable are Thy Tabernacles.
1 Lord of the worlds above,
How pleasant and how fair
The dwellings of Thy love,
Thine earthly temples are!
To Thine abode
My heart aspires,
With warm desires
To see my God.
2 The sparrow for her young
With pleasure seeks a nest,
And wandering swallows long
To find their wonted rest:
My spirit faints,
With equal zeal
To rise and dwell
Among Thy saints.
3 O happy souls that pray
To Him that heareth prayer!
O happy men that pay
Their constant service there!
[36]
They praise Thee still;
And happy they
Who love the way
To Zion’s hill. ”

“ Vespers.
1 Fading, still fading, the last beam is shining;
Father in heaven! the day is declining;
Safety and innocence flee with the light,
Temptation and danger walk forth with the night;
From the fall of the shade till the morning bells chime,
Shield us from danger and keep us from crime!
Father! have mercy, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Amen!
2 Father in heaven! O, hear, when we call,
Through Jesus Christ, who is Saviour of all!
Fainting and feeble, we trust in Thy might;
In doubting and darkness Thy love be our light! ”

“ Morning Hymn.
1 Our Father! we thank Thee for sleep,
For quiet and peaceable rest;
We bless the kind care that doth keep
Thy children from being distressed:
O, how in their weakness shall children repay
Thy fatherly kindness, by night and by day?
2 Our voices shall utter Thy praise,
Our hearts shall o’erflow with Thy love;
O, teach us to walk in Thy ways,
And lift us earth’s trials above!
The heart’s true affection is all we can give;
In love’s pure devotion, O, help us to live! ”

“ Guide my spiritual powers.
3 He His spirit doth diffuse,
Sweeter far than midnight dews;
Lifting all my thoughts above,
On the wings of faith and love.
4 What if death my sleep invade;—
Should I be of death afraid?
Whilst encircled by Thine arm,
Death may strike, but cannot harm.
5 Visions brighter than the morn
Greet the deathless spirit born;
See, the guardian angel nigh
Waits to waft my soul on high!
[430]
6 With Thy heavenly presence blest,
Death is life, and labor, rest;
Welcome sleep or death to me,
Still secure, for still with Thee! ”

“ Glory to God.
1 Glory be to God on high,
God whose glory fills the sky!
Peace on earth to man forgiven,
Man, the well-beloved of heaven!
[62]
2 Favored mortals, raise the song;
Endless thanks to God belong;
Hearts o’erflowing with His praise,
Join the hymns your voices raise.
3 Mark the wonders of His hand;
Power, no empire can withstand;
Wisdom, angels’ glorious theme;
Goodness, one eternal stream!
4 Gracious Being! from Thy throne
Send Thy promised blessings down;
Let Thy light, Thy truth, Thy peace,
Bid our selfish passions cease. ”

“ Father, Thou hearest prayer!
2 Thou hearest; and we hear, above this din,
Thy blessed word sound clear:
“I purge this land from slavery and sin;
The reign of heaven draws near.”
3 O, never falter, ye who strive to bring
In men the heavenly birth;
For still the angel hosts unfaltering sing,
“Peace to the weary earth!”
[330]
4 O, never falter! peace must come by pain;
Heaven is not found, but won;
Hold the dark angel till he moulds again
The peace he hath undone.
5 We know not, Lord, what storms and trials strong
Must work our world’s new birth ”

“ Faith, Hope, and Love.
1 Supreme disposer of the heart!
Thou, since the world was made,
Hast the blest fruits of holiness
To holy hearts displayed.
[417]
2 Here, hope and faith their links unite
With love in one sweet chain;
But when all fleeting things are past,
Love shall alone remain.
3 O love! O true and fadeless light!
And shall it ever be,
That after all our toils and tears
Thy sabbath we shall see?
4 ’Mid thousand fears and dangers now
We sow our seed, with prayer,
But know that joyful hands shall reap
The shining harvests there. ”

“ The Day of Freedom.
1 O Thou, whose presence went before
Our fathers in their weary way,
As with Thy chosen moved of yore
The fire by night, the cloud by day!
[341]
2 When, from each temple of the free,
A nation’s song ascends to heaven,
Most holy Father, unto Thee
Now let our humble prayer be given.
3 Sweet peace be here; and hope and love
Be round us as a mantle thrown,
As unto Thee, supreme above,
The knee of prayer is bowed alone. ”

“ Father, Thy will, not mine, be done!
265. P. M.
Bowring.
Thy Will Be Done!
1 Thy will be done! In devious way
The hurrying stream of life may run;
Yet still our grateful hearts shall say
Thy will be done!
2 Thy will be done! If o’er us shine
A gladdening and a prosperous sun,
This prayer shall make it more divine:—
Thy will be done!
3 Thy will be done! Though shrouded o’er
Our path with gloom, one comfort, one,
Is ours,—to breathe, while we adore,
Thy will be done! ”

“ O’er a mourner’s stricken hours.
2 Blessed dews and tears that yet
Lift us nearer unto heaven!
Let us still His praise repeat,
Who in mercy all hath given.
[268]
336. 10s. M.
Anonymous.
The Strength of the Lonely.
1 Though lonely be thy path, fear not, for He
Who marks the sparrow fall is guarding thee;
And not a star shines o’er thy head by night,
But He hath known that it will reach thy sight.
2 And not a grief can darken or surprise,
Swell in thy heart, or dim with tears thine eyes,
But it is sent in mercy and in love,
To bid thy helplessness seek strength above. ”

“ Wail not in sadness o’er the darkling tomb;
God in His love still watcheth kindly o’er thee,
Light shineth still above the clouds of gloom.
3 Dimmed though thine eyes be with the tears of sorrow
Night only known beneath the sky of time,
Faith can behold the dawning of a morrow
Glowing in smiles of life and joy sublime.
[271]
4 Change, then, O mourner, grief to exultation;
Firm and confiding should thy spirit be;
Strong is His arm, the God of thy salvation,
Strong is His love to cheer and comfort thee. ”

“ Where bends the cataract’s ocean-fall;
On the lone mountain’s silent head,
There are Thy temples, God of all!
2 The tombs Thine altars are; for there,
When earthly loves and hopes have fled,
To Thee ascends the spirit’s prayer,
Thou God of the immortal dead!
3 All space is holy, for all space
Is filled by Thee;—but human thought
Burns clearer in some chosen place,
Where Thine own words of love are taught. ”

“ Dedication Hymns.
1 O Thou, whose own vast temple stands
Built over earth and sea,
Accept the walls that human hands
Have raised to worship Thee!
[301]
2 Lord, from Thine inmost glory send,
Within these courts to bide,
The peace that dwelleth, without end,
Serenely by Thy side!
3 May erring minds that worship here
Be taught the better way;
And they who mourn, and they who fear,
Be strengthened as they pray.
4 May faith grow firm, and love grow warm,
And pure devotion rise,
While round these hallowed walls the storm
Of earth-born passion dies. ”