The sultry sun's intenser heat,
And thorns of worldly care.

3 Though buried deep, or thinly sown,
Do Thou Thy grace supply;

The hope in earthly furrows strown,
Shall ripen in the sky.

44

R. Heber.

C. M.

AND now the wants are told, that brought
Thy children to Thy knee;

Here lingering still, we ask for nought,
But simply worship Thee.

2 The hope of heaven's eternal days
Absorbs not all the heart

That gives Thee glory, love, and praise,
For being what Thou art.

3 For Thou art God, the one, the same,
O'er all things high and bright;
And round us, when we speak Thy name,
There spreads a heaven of light.

4 Oh, wondrous peace, in thought to dwell On excellence divine;

To know that nought in man can tell
How fair Thy beauties shine!

5 O Thou, above all blessing blest,
O'er thanks exalted far,

Thy very greatness is a rest
To weaklings as we are;

6 For when we feel the praise of Thee
A task beyond our powers,

We say, "A perfect God is He,
And He is fully ours."

W. Bright.

45

8s, 7s. 81.

GENTLY, Lord, O gently lead us,
Pilgrims in this vale of tears,
Through the trials yet decreed us,
Till our last great change appears.
When temptation's darts assail us,
When in devious paths we stray,
Let Thy goodness never fail us,
Lead us in Thy perfect way.

2 In the hour of pain and anguish,

In the hour when death draws near,
Suffer not our hearts to languish,
Suffer not our souls to fear.
And, when mortal life is ended,
Bid us in Thine arms to rest,
Till, by angel bands attended,
We awake among the blest.

T. Hastings.

46

8s, 7s.

47

MAY the grace of Christ, our Saviour,
And the Father's boundless love,
With the Holy Spirit's favor,

Rest upon us from above!
Thus may we abide in union

With each other, and the Lord;
And possess, in sweet communion,
Joys which earth cannot afford.

LO, THE day of rest declineth,

J. Newton.

Gather fast the shades of night;
May the Sun which ever shineth,

8s, 7s.

Fill our souls with heavenly light!
While Thine ear of love addressing,
Thus our parting hymn we sing,

48

Father, grant Thine evening blessing,
Fold us safe beneath Thy wing!

C. Robbins.

10s.

SAVIOUR, again to Thy dear name we raise With one accord our parting hymn of praise; We stand to bless Thee ere our worship cease; Then, lowly kneeling, wait Thy word of peace.

2 Grant us Thy peace upon our homeward way; With Thee began, with Thee shall end the day: Guard Thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,

That in this house have called upon Thy name.

3 Grant us Thy peace, Lord, through the coming night;

Turn Thou for us its darkness into light; From harm and danger keep Thy children free,

For dark and light are both alike to Thee.

4 Grant us Thy peace throughout our earthly life,

Our balm in sorrow, and our stay in strife; Then, when Thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,

Call us, O Lord, to Thine eternal peace.

49

J. Ellerton.

THE Lord be with us as we bend

His blessing to receive;
His gift of peace upon us send,
Before His courts we leave.

2 The Lord be with us as we walk
Along our homeward road;
In silent thought or friendly talk
Our hearts be still with God.

C. M.

3 The Lord be with us till the night
Shall close the day of rest;
Be He of every heart the light,
Of every home the guest.

4 The Lord be with us still, we pray,

50

His nightly watch to keep;

Crown with His peace His own blest day,
And guard His people's sleep.

J. Ellerton.

L. M. 61.

SWEET Saviour, bless us ere we go;
Thy word into our minds instil;
And make our luke-warm hearts to glow
With lowly love and fervent will.
Through life's long day and death's
dark night,

O gentle Jesus, be our light.

2 The day is gone, its hours have run,
And Thou hast taken count of all,
The scanty triumphs grace hath won,
The broken vow, the frequent fall.
Through life's long day, etc.

3 Grant us, dear Lord, from evil ways
True absolution and release,
And bless us, more than in past days,
With purity and inward peace.
Through life's long day, etc.

4 For all we love, the poor, the sad,
The sinful, unto Thee we call;
O let Thy mercy make us glad ;
Thou art our Saviour, and our all.
Through life's long day, etc.

5 Sweet Saviour, bless us; night is come; Thro' night and darkness near us be;

51

Good angels watch about our home,
And we are one day nearer Thee.
Through life's long day, etc.

F. W. Faber.

8,7,8,7,7,7

SAVIOUR, now the day is ending
And the shades of evening fall,
Let Thy Holy Dove, descending,
Bring Thy mercy to us all;
Set Thy seal on every heart,
Jesus, bless us ere we part.

2 Bless the gospel-message, spoken
In Thine own appointed way;
Give each longing soul a token
Of Thy tender love to-day;
Set Thy seal on every heart,
Jesus, bless us ere we part.

3 Comfort those in pain and sorrow, Watch each sleeping child of Thine; Let us all arise to-morrow

Strengthened by Thy grace Divine;
Set Thy seal on every heart,
Jesus, bless us ere we part.

4 Pardon Thou each deed unholy,
Lord, forgive each sinful thought;
Make us contrite, pure, and lowly,
By Thy great example taught ;
Set Thy seal on every heart,
Jesus, bless us ere we part.

52

ALMIGHTY Father, bless the word

S. Doudney.

L. M.

Which thro' Thy grace we now have heard ;
O may the precious seed take root,
Spring up, and bear abundant fruit.